Recurrent aphthous ulcerations in a mixed Arab community.

Twenty thousand Arabs of various nationalities living in Kuwait have been investigated over the past 5 years; 5,470 (27%) manifested recurrent aphthous ulcerations (RAU). Non-Kuwaiti Arabs were affected more the Kuwaitis and the prevalence of the disease was respectively 35% and 18%. Among Kuwaitis, only 5% of the Bedouins manifested the diseases whereas 22% of urbanized Arabs were affected. The ratio of the affected females to males in this study was 6:5. The clinical course of RAU in Arabs was similar to that reported in other populations. Various environmental factors such as stressful conditions, social tradition and obligations, and the allergenic Arabic food seemed to affect the prevalence of RAU in different Arab communities.