Unusual COVID Symptom Occurs In Mouth
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- Published: Tuesday, 26 January 2021 10:06
- Written by Chris Tapper
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‘Covid Tongue’ is on the rise, according to King’s College genetic epidemiologist Professor Tim Spector. The little-known symptom from COVID-19 received nationwide publicity over the weekend after Prof Spector tweeted a photograph of a patient with a patchy tongue which was ascribed to COVID-19.
The clinical appearance of the patient’s tongue drew comparisons from dental professionals with the harmless condition benign migratory glossitis, commonly known as geographic tongue, or oral thrush.
Prof Spector told The Huffington Post that one in five people with COVID experience symptoms which don’t appear on the ‘official’ symptoms list. He said that patients were also presenting with ‘strange mouth ulcers’ and skin rashes after coming down with the coronavirus.
A variety of other unusual symptoms not commonly associated with the coronavirus infection included conjunctivitis and discoloration of the fingers and toes, have been reported to the UK’s Covid Symptom Study app.
A number of dental professionals who saw the clinical appearance of two photographs posted by Prof Spector remarked on its similarity to geographical tongue or oral candidiasis.
“Red and white patches in the mouth can be caused by thrush, which is a fungal infection, said British Dental Association research spokesperson Professor Damien Walmsley. “The white patches usually rub off, leaving a sore red patch underneath,” he told the Huffington Post.
The incidence of thrush in COVID patients is thought to be down to patients not eating properly during their illness. Resulting imbalances may lead to vitamin and iron deficiencies B12 which may encourage opportunistic infections from Candida albicans.
Another theory is that patients who may be examining the mouth during their COVID illness may be identifying pre-existing harmless geographical tongue which hadn’t been noticed by them previously.
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