COVID: THIS symptom in mouth can remain for up to a month, finds study

There are several symptoms of COVID depending upon how the virus reacts with the host body. Most of the symptoms of COVID are related to nose and throat, the respiratory passage.

There is a rare COVID symptom that occurs in the mouth. No, it is not loss of taste! There are few reports of this symptom, however it was highly prevalent during the initial waves of COVID infection.

Read: Runny nose is one of the top COVID symptoms in double vaccinated

Read: Study finds 5 COVID symptoms most commonly seen in 'vaccinated people'

In view of the ever mutating nature of the coronavirus and the manner in which the symptoms are consistently reappearing in human beings, it is essential to know about this symptom.

The COVID symptom that is seen in the mouth is known as COVID tongue. This rare symptom was studied by several researchers who said that though it does not occur in many people, it can be seen as a sign of the infection.

"Early on in the pandemic, researchers in Spain published a paper reporting that around a quarter of patients hospitalized with COVID had changes to their mouth or tongue. However, we found it to be less common in mild COVID cases," says the UK's ZOE COVID study app.

On the prevalence of this symptom, the ZOE COVID study app says that mouth ulcers are very common, and many illnesses and infections can cause changes to the surface of the tongue, such as an unexplained condition known as ‘geographic tongue’ that can last for months.

A study on a male patient aged 58 years who was COVID positive revealed that had symptoms of fever, slight respiratory distress, and malaise along with unusual appearance on the surface of his tongue.

The patient was doubly vaccinated, gave a negative history with respect to tobacco chewing, smoking, alcohol drinking, etc. and had no relevant drug history.

He reported having pain while eating food during the first week of illness. He was recommended multivitamins and multiminerals and chlorhexidine mouthwash for 1 month. "The patient was recalled after 1 month for postoperative evaluation. Upon examination, complete healing of the tongue was observed and a significant resolution of dryness of the oral mucosa was achieved," the study report says.

COVID tongue resembles geographic tongue.

In this case, small patches are seen on the tongue. These patches give the tongue a map-like appearance and hence it is known as a geographic tongue.

These small bumps are painful and make it extremely difficult for a person to chew or swallow foods. It makes the tongue sensitive to spicy and hot foods.

As per a recent study published in the Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, "The COVID tongue is one of the most encountered oral symptoms usually presented as a typical bald, red area of varying size that is surrounded by an irregular white border. There is a characteristic behavioral change in shape and size of the affected area resembling the geographic tongue."

It lists the following characteristics of COVID tongue: loss of taste, ulceration, burning sensation, dry mouth, red or white patch lesions, petechiae, and a whitish coating on the surface.

Though the exact cause behind the occurrence of COVID tongue is unclear, it might be due to the binding of the virus to the oral epithelial cells angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor.

It can also be due to the conditions created by COVID stress and medications that favour the growth of viruses, bacteria, fungi in the mouth.

When you feel uneasy in your tongue, look for other COVID signs. Though it is a symptom of COVID, it isn't a standalone symptom. Other signs of COVID like fever, runny nose, sore throat and other signs are most likely to be seen in individuals during the onset of the infection.

If you do not see any other COVID symptoms, seek your doctor's help and get medicines for the swollen tongue.