If angular cheilitis does not heal after antifungal treatment, what is recommended?

• A. Biopsy if non-healing
• B. Increase sugar intake
• C. Ignore symptoms
• D. Start antiviral therapy

Answer: (A)

When angular cheilitis fails to heal after antifungal treatment, the key step is to obtain a tissue diagnosis. A biopsy allows histologic examination to determine whether the lesion is due to another process—such as a malignancy (like squamous cell carcinoma) or another chronic inflammatory condition—rather than a simple fungal infection. This helps ensure a serious underlying problem isn’t missed and directs appropriate next steps in treatment.

The other options don’t address the possibility of a different or more serious cause. Increasing sugar intake would feed fungal growth, ignoring symptoms postpones needed evaluation, and starting antiviral therapy targets viruses and wouldn’t resolve a non-viral or non-infectious issue.