The autoimmune disorder that causes mouth sores is Behçet's syndrome which is a rare multisystem inflammatory disorder that causes ulcers and affects the mouth and the genitals, various skin lesions and also abnormalities that affect the eyes.
Symptoms of Behçet's syndrome include mucous membrane lesions of the mouth which are canker sores in the mouth and ulcers of the genitals which tend to disappear and recur spontaneously.
Lupus can also cause mouth sores and the mouth sores with lupus have a non-characteristic coloring of red or white – or both red and white – and are painless.
Oral lesions associated with active disease are usually red ulcers surrounded by a white halo and white radiating lines.
In severe cases of Behçet's syndrome, there's also a risk of serious and potentially life-threatening problems, such as permanent vision loss and strokes.
Most people with Behçet's syndrome experience episodes where their symptoms are severe (flare-ups or relapses), followed by periods where the symptoms disappear (remission).
The cause of Behçet's disease is unknown, but it may be the body's immune system attacking healthy cells (autoimmune disorder).
Steroids, mouthwash, and eyedrops can provide relief from Behçet's disease.
Similar conditions that can be mistaken for Behçet's disease include.
Ulcerative Colitis.
Crohn's Disease.
Celiac Disease.
HLA-B27 Seronegative Arthritis – eg ankylosing spondylitis.
Reiter's Syndrome.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.
Sarcoidosis.
Multiple Sclerosis.
The use of topical corticosteroids such as creams, lozenges, mouthwashes and sprays are usually the first treatment recommended for mouth and genital ulcers.
You may also be given pain relief creams or gels to protect the affected area and sometimes antimicrobials or antibiotics.