Your body can say a lot about your health – especially when it comes to the coronavirus, which can affect many different parts of the body. COVID can cause symptoms in the eyes, feet, hands and even in the mouth. Believe it or not, watching your mouth can help you discover that you have been infected by the virus. According to experts, if you notice any of these four symptoms in your mouth, you may have COVID. Read on to learn more about the telltale signs, to learn more about the symptoms, if this part of your body hurts, you may have COVID.
1
A white tongue
A change in the appearance of the tongue is one of the most recent reported mouth-related symptoms. Tim Spector, PhD, epidemiologist and principal investigator of the ZOE COVID Symptom Study app, tweeted a photo of a patient with a white tongue which resembles a condition called geographical language. Spector indicated that this “COVID language” may be one of the “less common symptoms” that patients experience that are not included in official public health lists.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the geographical tongue is an inflammatory condition, which may indicate its relationship with the coronavirus. An August 2020 study published in International Journal of Infectious Diseases said that when cells with ACE2 receptors are infected with the virus, it can cause inflammatory reactions in related organs and tissues, such as the tongue. And for more common symptoms of coronavirus, find the “strongest and most consistent” signal that you have COVID, says the study.
two
Rashes and ulcers
Skin rashes have been widely documented as a symptom of coronavirus, but you may also experience rashes in your mouth. According to WebMD, a Spanish study published in the journal JAMA Dermatology was the first to identify this symptom, called enantoma, which appears as skin rashes or mouth ulcers. In the study, the enantoma usually appeared anywhere from two days before the onset of other symptoms of the coronavirus to 24 days later.
Michele Green, MD, a dermatologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, told WebMD that enanthem is not a surprising symptom for coronavirus, given how it arises in other infections. “It is very common in patients with viral infections like chickenpox and foot and mouth. It is characteristic of many viral rashes to affect mucous membranes, ”she explained. And for more news about the coronavirus, Dr. Fauci has just issued this severe warning about the UK’s COVID strain.
3
Metallic taste
A December 2020 study published in Neurological Clinical Practice found that 62.4% of coronavirus cases had symptoms of dysgeusia, which is a distortion of taste. And although many people know that loss of taste is a symptom of coronavirus, they may not realize that it may first appear as a metallic taste in their mouth. Robert Korn, MD, an emergency physician in New York, told Refinery29 that a metallic taste in the mouth could just be “an altered taste on the way to completely losing sensation”. And for the most up-to-date information, subscribe to our daily newsletter.
4
Aridity
A September 2020 study on Ear, nose and throat diary concluded that dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, should be considered a symptom of the coronavirus. The researchers noted that several studies have determined that the salivary glands have the greatest existence of ACE2 receptors in cells – and these receptors are what allow the virus to enter someone’s body. Given that reduced or absent salivary flow can be caused by virus-induced infections and inflammation, the researchers concluded that dry mouth can result from a COVID infection. And to find out how to better protect yourself from the virus, doing so with your mask can keep you even more secure than COVID, experts say.