The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7238 p294
1 March 2003

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Tobacco Control (tc.bmjjournals.com)

Tell quitters of increase in colds and mouth ulcers

Smokers trying to stop should be informed that they have an increased chance of developing mouth ulcers or cold symptoms, authors of a new study say.

They found that smokers have an increased chance of experiencing aphthous ulcers and cold symptoms, such as sore throat, coughing and sneezing, for up to two weeks after quitting. After six weeks all such symptoms had subsided.

The authors say that an increase in mouth ulcers could be related to the loss of the antibacterial effect of smoking, and the cold symptoms might be due to a transient depression in immune function after kicking the habit.

They suggest that people are more likely to take up the habit again if they are not psychologically prepared for the symptoms they might experience. “The body’s backlash could deter many ex-smokers from staying the course, unless they know what to expect,” they say (Tobacco Control 2003;12:86).