• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.293-296
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• 2023

Oral mucosal burns can occur after contact with various chemical agents, and commonly manifest as areas of mucosal sloughing and ulceration. Policresulen (Albothyl, Celltrion Pharm Inc.) is an over-the-counter topical antiseptic that is frequently used to treat stomatitis. Policresulen solution is highly acidic, with an approximate pH of 0.6; it can thus cause mucosal injury when improperly applied in the oral cavity. Here, we present a rare case of an oral mucosal burn resulting from incorrect self-administration of policresulen and emphasize the importance of increasing understanding of this adverse drug event among consumers and health professionals.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2013

Chemical burn on the oral mucosa is caused by contact with various chemical products and manifests with localized mucositis, keratotic white lesions, bleeding, and painful tissue surface due to the coagulation of the tissue. Policresulen ($Albothyl^{(R)}$) is a topical antiseptic, commonly used over-the-counter drug for vaginitis, thrush and stomatitis. This drug is highly acidic with pH 0.6, and can act as a strong corrosive agent to oral mucosa. When inadvertently used in oral cavity, it may cause chemical burns of oral mucosa, resulting necrosis and bleeding surface resembling to erythema multifome. A 56 years old female patient presented with the chief complaints of painful ulcerations on the tongue, the upper and lower lips. On intraoral examination, an erythromatous, erosive or ulcerative surface covered with inflammatory exudates or bleeding crust is observed on the anterior half of the tongue and the upper and lower lips. She has occasionally applied the policresulen solution topically on the tongue to relieve pain from recurrent focal glossitis for about 10 years. In this time she applied it broadly and repeatedly to the tongue, the upper and lower lips for the purpose of pain relief by herself without instruction by physician or dentist. After cessation of policresulen application, the oral mucosa was rapidly recovered with use of topical steroids. In 2 weeks the lesions subsided completely. In summary, inadvertent use of $Albothyl^{(R)}$ on oral mucosa may result in chemical burn, causing mucosal erosion, ulceration and inflammation. It can be recovered by topical use of corticosteroid for 2 weeks after cessation of using $Albothyl^{(R)}$.