An update on oral clinical courses among patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection: A clinical follow-up (a prospective prevalent cohort) study

Abstract

Introduction Contemporary literature has revealed that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes acute sialadenitis and related symptoms, such as discomfort, pain, swelling, and secretory dysfunction in salivary glands. The secretory dysfunction is due to SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced xerostomia and other associated clinical courses such as sore tongue, mucosal ulcer, and gingivitis in the oral cavity. Furthermore, it has been reported that COVID-19 causes the development of other oral manifestations. Materials and methods A prospective clinical follow-up (a prevalent cohort) study was conducted to identify the possible oral manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients admitted toat the Eka General Hospital COVID-19 treatment center. Furthermore, the study aimed to calculate the prevalence rate of oral clinical courses in the cohorts. The study consisted of two follow-up phases: Hospital and patient-home-based. Results A total of 55 patients (36 males and 19 females) met the inclusion criteria and were followed for 7.5 weeks. The 3.5 weeks hospital-based prospective follow-up study documented an 18% (n = 10) prevalence rate of oral clinical courses among the cohorts. Twelve oral symptoms appeared in these ten patients. The manifested oral symptoms were oral mucosal lesions (n = 6), xerostomia (n = 5), and thickening of saliva (n = 1). The oral mucosal lesions per se consisted of aphthous lesions (n = 3), candidiasis (n = 1), geographic tongue (n = 1), and localized gingivitis (n = 1). The four weeks’ home-based follow-up study disclosed four newly manifested oral symptoms: hemorrhagic crust, bulla, buccal mucositis, and petechiae. These manifestations appeared among six patients (four males and two females) who had not manifested any oral symptoms during the hospital-based follow-up. Accordingly, the overall prevalence of oral clinical courses among patients presented with SARS-CoV-2 is raised from 18% (n = 10) to 29% (n = 16). Similarly, the number of clinical courses increased from 12 to 16 after four additional weeks of follow-up. Discussion The study’s findings suggest the importance of initiating oral health care for patients with COVID-19. Therefore, multidisciplinary healthcare approaches should be delivered to assure optimal health outcomes. Accordingly, oral health professionals must be a substantial part of the interdisciplinary approach in caring for patients with COVID-19.

Prevalence and association of oral manifestations with disease severity in patients diagnosed with COVID‑19: A cross‑sectional study

“…Parotitis refers to the inflammatory condition affecting the parotid glands, which are the most often affected major salivary glands ( 45 ). It has the potential to be either a localized condition or as a symptom of a broader systemic inflammation ( 46 ). Etiology may be attributed to several factors, including duct blockage (such as sialolithiasis), the presence of infectious agents, or inflammatory processes (Sjogren syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus) ( 47 ).…”

Treatments of COVID-19-Associated Taste and Saliva Secretory Disorders

“…The prevalence was 39% for dysgeusia at an 8-month follow-up [ 11 ], 19% for ageusia at a 12-month follow-up [ 15 ], and 22% for taste or smell impairment at a 12-month follow-up [ 16 ]. According to follow-up studies [ 11 , 17 , 18 ] and comprehensive symptom reviews [ 13 , 19 ], xerostomia, dry mouth, and hyposalivation persist in COVID-19 survivors, with a prevalence of 9–29% at 1–8 month follow-ups. Parageusia (wrong taste elicited by a taste stimulus) and phantogeusia (feeling taste in the absence of a taste stimulus) have also been observed in 23.5% and 17.6%, respectively, of subjects followed up 2 months after a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test [ 20 ].…”

Treatments of COVID-19-Associated Taste and Saliva Secretory Disorders

“…The prevalence is 39% for dysgeusia at 8-month follow-up [11], 19% for ageusia at 12-month follow-up [15], and 22% for taste or smell impairment at 12month follow-up [16]. According to follow-up studies [11,17,18] and comprehensive symptom reviews [13,19], xerostomia, dry mouth, and hyposalivation persist in COVID-19 survivors with prevalence of 9-29% at 1-8 months follow-ups. Parageusia (wrong taste elicited by a taste stimulus) and phantogeusia (feeling taste in the absence of a taste stimulus) are also observed in 23.5% and 17.6%, respectively, of subjects followed up 2 months after negativity of the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test [20].…”