Oral mucosal lesions in moderate-to-severe COVID-19 Disease – An Indian critical care unit experience

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a widespread worldwide public health malady due to a viral COVID-19 infection. The World Health Organization has affirmed this malady as a pandemic and Public Health Emergency of International Concern. A wide array of oral lesions has been reported in patients with COVID-19. Oral lesions can be an initial sign of COVID-19 or an alarming sign of peripheral thrombosis. However, there is a scarcity of published literature on the oral manifestations of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients. We present four different types of oral lesions in hospitalized patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 disease. This article proposes that a detailed examination of the oral cavity in patients admitted to COVID-19 intensive care unit/high dependency units will help to understand the significance of the oral lesions in the management of the disease. Dental professionals should be a part of the multidisciplinary treatment protocol, thus, emphasizing a detailed and meticulous oral examination and oral health amelioration of COVID-19 patients.