Angular Cheilitis with Anemia as a Predisposing Factor: A Case Report

Abstract

Angular cheilitis is a lesion in the corner of the lips caused by many factors, including nutritional deficiencies and systemic diseases. Angular cheilitis can be caused not only by trauma but also by systemic conditions such as anemia. The treatment of angular cheilitis depends on its causes. Purpose: This article aims to describe angular cheilitis lesions and therapy. Case report: A 17-year-old female patient came to Rumah Sakit Gigi dan Mulut (RSGM) Soelastri, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, complaining of pain in the corners of her lips. The complaints were felt approximately one month ago. Lately, she often underwent dental treatments that made her open her mouth widely for too long. The patient has no habit of licking the corners of her lips but rarely eats vegetables and fruits. The patient often feels stressed due to heavy college burdens. An intraoral examination showed ulcerated lesions in the form of fissures with a reddish color located at the right and left (bilateral) corners of the lips, soft in consistency, and painful. The patient underwent a complete blood test and found that the MCV, MCH, and MCHC values decreased. The diagnosis of this case is angular cheilitis which is triggered by trauma and is predisposed by hypochromic microcytic anemia and stress. Conclusion: angular cheilitis can be treated by administering topical corticosteroid medications to reduce inflammation and educating the patient to eliminate predisposing factors, such as increasing iron intake and managing stress. The lesion completely healed after two weeks post-examination.