Aphtha is divided into sthenic fire syndrome and asthenic fire syndrome according to the differences in pathogenic factors and the variations of individual physique of infantile patients in syndrome differentiation. Clinically, sthenic fire syndrome may be classified into wind and heat subjugating the spleen as well as rising heart fire, both being acute; asthenic fire sydrome occurs repeatedly with rising asthenic fire. Wind and heat subjugating the spleen syndrome often manifests herpes and ulcer on the lips and tongue, or erosion of the whole oral cavity with painful swelling of red colour, foul breath, salivation, anorexia and constipation.

The syndrome of flaring-up of heart fire manifests the erosion or ulcer on the tongue and lingual edges, painful swelling with red colour, feeding difficulty, dysphoria with restlessness, thirst with desire for drink, scanty and yellowish urine as well as red tongue tip; the syndrome of flaring-up of asthenic fire manifests repeated attack of ulcer on the mouth and lips without redness or with light red colour around ulcer, mild pain, listlessness, zygomatic flushing, less or peeled fur, thready and rapid pulse.