Bi-lateral eosinophilic ulcers in an infant treated with propolis

BACKGROUND: Propolis is a natural substance, produced by the honey bee, con taining amino acids, flavanoids, terpenes and cinnamic acid. It has long be en used in folk-medicine for topical inflammatory conditions including ulce rative lesions of different aetiologies, METHODS: A 13-month-old female infant developed bilateral eosinophilic ulce rs of the mouth, becoming the youngest patient in the literature so far rep orted to have done so, Following a protracted 4-month course, during which time the lesions remained unchanged despite Various treatments, the ulcers were treated locally with a lanolin-based propolis ointment. RESULTS: Application of the propolis ointment was associated with the rapid resolution of the ulcers within 3 weeks and they did not subsequently recu r, CONCLUSIONS: Although inevitably circumstantial, the abrupt healing of this child's chronic eosinophilic ulcers suggests that, in the light of its pre viously known therapeutic associations, propolis deserves further evaluatio n in the treatment of this condition, and perhaps in other forms of oral ul ceration as well.