Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the main symptoms of the virus that members of the public have been told to look out for have been a high fever, a new, persistent cough and a loss or changed sense of smell and taste. In addition to the main symptoms, people around the world have reported experiencing various other side effects that they believe could be linked to the virus, including Covid toes, shortness of breath, loss of smell and taste and gastrointestinal symptoms. A leading UK researcher has recently urged other symptoms found in the mouth should be added to the official list.
Professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College in London, Tim Spector urges two symptoms found in the mouth should be added to the official symptom list.
Covid tongue and mouth ulcers may need to be included in what could become a vast list of symptoms of COVID-19.
Professor Spector says one in five people with COVID-19 are presenting with less common symptoms including skin rashes which are not on the official symptom list.
By using the ZOE Covid Symptom Study, an app which encourages Britons to report their symptoms which prompted them to get tested for the virus, Professor Spector was able to conclude the growing concern and reports of mouth symptoms.
On top of Covid tongue and ulcers, swollen or discoloured tongues are other manifestations being reported.
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A research letter published in the British Journal of Dermatology, noted that a significant number of COVID-19 patients are experiencing bumps on their tongue, along with inflammation and swelling.
The letter analysed data from 666 patients at a temporary field hospital in Spain and found that more than 45 percent had some form of mucocutaneous symptoms.
It was reported that mucocutaneous symptoms appear on areas where mucous membranes and skin meet, like your mouth, eyes, and parts of genitalia.
More than 25 percent had symptoms in their mouth, including inflammation of the bumps on the skin surface, and overall redness and swelling of the tongue.
It was common for patients to also say they felt a burning sensation in their mouth, as well as loss of taste.
“Data from our ZOE symptom app suggests Covid tongue it is real,” Spector said in an email to USA TODAY.
“But probably rare, affecting less than 1 in 100 people.”
The CDC, on its website, lists COVID symptoms as muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhoea.
However, the agency adds that its list “does not include all possible symptoms.
“Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19.”
The Madrid researchers noted one in four of these patients reportedly noticed swollen and inflamed tongues with indentations on the side, small bumps or patchy areas on the tongue and swelling of the mouth or sores.
Professor Spector stresses the importance of how COVID-19 has a myriad of symptoms prompting the importance of changing the official symptom list accordingly.
“One in five people with COVID still present with less common symptoms that don’t get on the official (symptom) list,” he tweeted recently.
“If you have a strange symptom or even just headache and fatigue stay at home.”
Published at Mon, 08 Feb 2021 15:51:00 +0000
Covid update: Covid tongue and ulcers need to be added to symptoms list warns researcher
