The authors review the literature on aetiopathogenesis and therapeutic management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. The data regarding the role of genetic, nutritional and microbiological factors in the genesis of recurrent aphthous stomatitis has been particularly examined. Despite significant associations with some antigens HLA have been reported in Southern Europe, there is no clear genetic predisposition in recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Several studies have analyzed the importance of iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiencies, gluten intolerance and sensitivity to certain foods in the triggering of recurrent aphthous stomatitis however the results have been controversial. Recently, it has been suggested that recurrent aphthous stomatitis could be caused by reactivation of varicella-zoster virus and/or cytomegalovirus but these viruses may be reactivated by the immunodysregulation known to underlie recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Moreover, antiviral drugs appear to have only an equivocal effect on recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is probably determined by immunological mechanisms although there actually no unifying hypothesis which attempt to integrate the results of the many immunologic studies on recurrent aphotous stomatitis. Moreover, the target antigen and the cause of recurrences of recurrent aphthous stomatitis are still unknown. As far as the management of this disease it is important to recognize recurrent aphthous stomatitis secondary to systemic diseases like Behcet's syndrome, gluten enteropathy and haematinics deficiencies. Subsequently, the symptoms can be reduced with several drugs (mainly topical corticosteroids) but there are no effective therapies preventing recurrences.