Oral manifestations associated with COVID-19 infection: a cross-sectional study of recovered Iraqi patients

Al-Magsoosi, Mohanad Jameel Najm, Al-Asadi, Oras Kadhim Baqer, Al-Quraine, Nibrass Talib, Sami, Suha Mohammad and Haider, Julfikar ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7010-8285 (2023) Oral manifestations associated with COVID-19 infection: a cross-sectional study of recovered Iraqi patients. International Journal of Dentistry, 2023. p. 4288182. ISSN 1687-8728

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Abstract

Aims. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of oral manifestations related to COVID-19 infection among a sample of recovered patients in the Basrah province of Iraq. Methodology. This cross-sectional study included a total of 574 individuals from Basrah city, Iraq (196 males and 378 females), who had been previously infected with COVID-19. A questionnaire was developed and used to record the demographic data, medical history, severity of respiratory infection followed by hospitalization along with oral signs and symptoms that occurred during the COVID-19 infection and their persistence after recovery. Results. Oral manifestations were reported in 88.3% of the studied sample. The most common oral manifestation was ageusia (66.8%), followed by dry mouth (59%), gustatory changes (46%), dysphagia (40.5%), burning sensation (20.8%), oral ulceration (14.5%), and gingival bleeding (3.3%). The findings suggested that ageusia was the only symptom that persisted following recovery from the COVID-19 infection. The results showed a significant statistical correlation between the incidence of oral manifestations and the severity of COVID-19 infection followed by hospitalization. A significant correlation was also found between the age groups and COVID-19 oral manifestations, whereas no significant statistical relationship was observed between gender, smoking, and systemic diseases. Conclusions. COVID-19 infection has considerable impacts on the oral cavity and salivary glands and after recovery from the infection, some patients continue to complain of ageusia for several months. There is a positive correlation between the incidence of oral signs and symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection and the severity of the infection.