Review Article

Is SARS-CoV-2 an Etiologic Agent or Predisposing Factor for Oral Lesions in COVID-19 Patients? A Concise Review of Reported Cases in the Literature

Table 1

Reported oral findings in COVID-19 patients, including cases with reactivation of previous infections.

Authors/date of submission (2020)Basis of diagnosisSexAge (y)Underlying disease sGeneral/extraoral symptomsChief complaintOral manifestationOutcomeAdditional information

Chaux-Bodard et al./April 11 [6]Nasopharyngeal swab on day 8F45NS(i) Erythematous painful toe lesion, 3 d after oral lesion, painful for 2 d
(ii) Mild asthenia
1 d painful inflamed lingual papilla, 1 d red macula, and finally asymptomatic tongue ulcer(i) Complete healing after 10 d(i) COVID-19 vasculitis could be responsible for oral macule
(ii) Oral/skin lesions were the first signs, and general symptoms were minimal

Martín Carreras-Presas et al./April 20 [5]Bilateral pneumoniaF65Obesity and hypertension, took diuretics and ACE inhibitor(i) High fever, diarrhea, bilateral pneumonia
(ii) Developed rash under breasts, back, and genitalia (3rd week)
(i) Tongue pain from the beginning
(ii) Skin rash 23 d later
Ex: blisters on internal labial mucosa and desquamative gingivitis 30 d laterImprovement within 3 d after treatment with mouthwash and prednisoloneBiopsy: some criteria suggestive of viral exanthema or urticarial dermatitis with discrete blood extravasation

Putra et al./April 11 [8]Oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swab, PCR (day 3 of symptoms)M29None(i) Fever, sore throat, back pain, myalgia, dry cough, 1st-3rd days
(ii) Lymphopenia and neutrophilia, (2nd day)
(iii) Multiple lenticular red papules (3 mm) on extremities with pins and needles sensation (day 3
General symptoms(i) Aphthous stomatitis, day 7(i) Skin lesions on day 6 of symptoms, darkening on day 7
(ii) Pins/needles sensation resolve on day 8
(iii) Oral lesions resolve on day 10
(iv) All symptoms gone except dry cough on day 11
(v) Rhinorrhea and anosmia appear on days 12–14
Hand, foot, and mouth disease was rejected based on clinical manifestations and age

Hedou et al./April 21 (accepted) [9]Nasopharyngeal PCRNSRespiratory problems leading to intubationNSOral HSV-1 reactivation during illnessPatient aliveAdmitted to intensive care

Galván Casas et al./April 28 (accepted) [7]Lab confirmationMNSMaculopapular eruptions, other symptoms NSNSDesquamative gingivitis-like lesions, petechiae on the lower lip, and erythema on the palateNSAppearance of oral lesions is described based on the images provided by the authors and not the authors’ statements

Sakaida et al. /April 29 [10]PCR negative 8 d after oral/skin lesions, turned positive 11 d after oral/skin lesionsF52NSInitially had erythematous skin/oral lesions but after 8 d developed high fever, cough, chills, fatigue, dyspnea, WBC and CRP, lymphopenia, neutrophilia, and opacity in lower lung lobes on CTItchy erythema on limbs, erosions on lips, and buccal mucosaErosions on lips and buccal mucosa 2 d after antibiotic and NSAIDTransferred to an intensive care unit in another hospitalSkin biopsy showed deep lymphocytic infiltrations, which are not typical in drug eruptions

Jimenez-Cauhe et al./May 5 (accepted) [11]NSF58–77NSErythema multiforme skin lesionsNSPalatal macules and petechiae2-3 w after corticosteroid treatmentIn at least 2 of them, skin rashes appeared after discharge and their CRP, D-dimer, and lymphocyte count worsened; at least one of them was negative for infectious diseases
F
F

Aghazadeh et al./May 7 (received) [12]Nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCRF9None(i) Weakness, loss of appetite, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and red edematous papules and plaques on dorsal hands and feet
(ii) Dry cough, tachypnea, hypoxia, and somnolence
Malaise and oral/skin eruptionsEx: vesicles, erosions, and herpetiform eruptions on lips, anterior tongue, and buccal mucosaGeneral symptoms improved in a few weeks, mucocutaneous eruption resolved in about a week(i) HFMD was rejected due to acral eruption
(ii) No targetoid lesion or drug-intake history
(iii) PCR for HSV not performed
(iv) Oral/skin lesions preceded conventional COVID-19 symptoms

Ansari et al./May 11 [13]Nasopharyngeal swab PCRF56Diabetes mellitusFever and dyspneaSores in the mouth on 5th day of general symptomsEx: multiple painful ulcers on red nonbleeding background on the entire hard palateHealing 1 w later, no scarring(i) Negative HSV1/2 AB
(ii) Biopsy: desquamation, edema, granulation, ulceration, mononuclear cell invasion, and neutrophil infiltration secondary to bacteria
Nasopharyngeal swab PCRM75HypertensionHypoxia upon admissionDysphasia 1 w after admissionEx: multiple painful ulcers on red nonbleeding background the on anterior tongue

Askin et al./May 14 [14]RT-PCR or chest CTNSNSEx: enanthema and aphthous stomatitisNS
MEx: aphthous stomatitis on lateral tongue
NSEx: rash and enanthema

Llamas-Velasco et al./May 20 (available online) [15]Nasopharyngeal swabF59NoneFever, dry cough, dyspnea, bilateral interstitial pneumoniaNSVesicles and punched out perioral erosionsNSCombination of HSV-1, HSV-6, and EBV based on a herpesvirus family microarray PCR of the vesicle fluid

Fernandez-Nieto et al./May 27 (received date) [16]Nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2M69NoneBilateral interstitial pneumonia (ICU admittance)NSOrolabial recurrent herpes simplexNSVesicular content: HSV-1 + (multiplex herpes PCR), SARS-CoV-2-(RT-PCR)
F96Hypertension, chronic kidney disease, hyperuricemiaBilateral interstitial pneumoniaVesicular content: HSV-1 + (multiplex herpes PCR), SARS-CoV-2-(RT-PCR)
F77Primary biliary cholangitis, AlzheimerBilateral interstitial pneumoniaVesicular content: HSV-1 + (multiplex herpes PCR)
M65Hypertension, dyslipidemiaBilateral interstitial pneumonia (ICU admittance)Vesicular content: HSV-1 + (multiplex herpes PCR)
M38Colorectal cancer with chemotherapyBilateral interstitial pneumoniaVesicular content: HSV-1 + (multiplex herpes PCR)
M61NoneBilateral interstitial pneumonia (ICU admittance)Vesicular content: HSV-1 + (multiplex herpes PCR)
F45NoneBilateral interstitial pneumonia
M76Hypertension, dyslipidemiaBilateral interstitial pneumonia

Amorim Dos Santos et al./May 29 [17]Nasopharyngeal swab, RT-PCRM67Revascularized respiratory disease, hypertension, ADPKD, and kidney transplant
Regular intake of immunosuppressants and use of pharmacological prophylaxis for venous pulmonary thromboembolism
(i) Respiratory symptoms, progressive dyspnea on exertion, fever, and diarrhea (10 d before admission)
(ii) Bilateral diffuse hyperdense “ground-glass” infiltrations on chest CT, upon admission
(iii) No skin lesions
General symptoms and hypogeusia (admission)Ex: viscous saliva, persistent white plaque, and pinpoint yellowish ulcers on dorsal tongue similar to late-stage herpetic recurrent lesions
(i) Tongue scrape culture showed Saccharomyces cerevisiae (24 d postadmission)
(ii) Severe asymptomatic geographic and fissured tongue 2 w after drug prescription
Photograph: asymptomatic moderate geographic tongue and tonsillar erythema 10 d postdischarge
(i) Lingual white plaque remained after oral nystatin and IV fluconazole in the hospital
(ii) Near complete resolution of white tongue lesions after 2 w chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, oral hygiene care, and continuation of antifungals
(i) Received supplemental O2 and orotracheal intubation

Soares et al./June 2 [18]PCRM42Diabetes and hypertension(i) Fever, cough, shortness of breath
(ii) Petechiae -like, vesiculobullous skin lesions (unknown etiology)
Painful ulceration in buccal mucosaEx: ulcerations and multiple reddish macules scattered throughout the hard palate, tongue, and lipsComplete resolution of oral lesions after 3 wBiopsy: epithelial vacuolization, chronic inflammation, focal necrosis, hemorrhage, vessel thrombi, and CD3+ and CD8+ infiltration of minor salivary glands

Ciccarese et al./June 2 [19]Nasopharyngeal swab, RT-PCRF19None(i) Ex: afebrile, red macules, papules, and petechiae on lower extremities
(ii) WBC and lymphocytes and thrombocytopenia
Fever/sore throat for 7 d, fatigue, hyposmia, and skin/oral/pharyngeal lesions (day 5)Ex: erosions, ulcerations, and hemorrhagic crusts on labial mucosae
(i) Petechiae on palate and gingiva
(i) Regression of systemic lesions, day 5 after treatment
(ii) Complete resolution of oral and cutaneous lesions on day 10
(i) Thrombocytopenia seen from initial stages—petechial lesions probably due to severe thrombocytopenia, triggered by SARS‐CoV‐2, worsened by cefixime

Cebeci Kahraman and Çaşkurlu/June 4 [20]2 positive rapid COVID-19 IgM tests 1 d apartM51None(i) Fever, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, and taste and smell issuesSore throat, which worsened 10 d after symptom onset(i) Ex: erythema on oropharynx and hard palate, midline petechiae, soft palate pustular enanthema (border)Resolved after a few days of antibiotic therapy(i) COVID-19 IgM+ and IgG+ after 2 w,
(ii) PCR was negative 2 w + 2 d after isolation and all symptoms resolved

Tomo et al./July 2 (received) [21]Nasopharyngeal swab, PCRF37NoneFever, asthenia, anosmiaWorsening of dysgeusia, burning tongue, and dry mouth on day 9(i) Dysgeusia, burning tongue, and dry mouth for 3 d
(ii) Telemedically (day 9): diffuse erythema and depapillation with red spots on lingual borders, no lesion on the palate
Symptomless. 2 w after COVID-19 onset and treatments

Cant et al./July 3 (published online) [22]NSM9Severe dystonia and epilepsyFever, malaise, and GI upsetSwollen lip and oral ulcer 2nd time in 2 w, each followed by fever, malaise, and GI upsetSwollen lip and oral ulcerationsImprovement 3 d after hydrocortisone treatment(i) Eight other children with the same oral lesions before pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19, in the same unit

Díaz Rodríguez et al./July 22 (accepted manuscript) [23]PCRF43NSFever, malaise, dysgeusia, anosmia, diarrhea, pneumonia, risk of thrombosis, based on lab testAphthous-like lesions, burning sensationPhotograph: aphthous-like lesions, progressive tongue depapillationDisappearance of ulcers and burning 10 d after triamcinolone rinse but not the depapillation
Positive for SARS-CoV-2, method not specifiedM53Hospital admissionBurning mouth, unilateral commissural fissures, anosmia, and dysgeusiaEx: commissural cheilitisAngular cheilitis, but not anosmia and dysgeusia, disappeared after antibiotics, nystatin, and hygiene measureOral manifestations were found few days after hospital discharge
Positive for SARS-CoV-2, method not specifiedF78NSHospital admissionDry mouth sensationEx: angular cheilitis and pseudomembranous candidiasis-like lesions on tongue, palate, and lip commissureAngular cheilitis and pseudomembranous lesions disappeared after nystatin and antibiotics, dry mouth improved after solutions/gels prescriptionSymptoms appeared since hospitalization

Glavina et al./August 9 (accepted online) [24]PCRF40Frequent recurrent herpes labialis eruptionWeakness, fever, and acute loss of tasteMalaise, fever, ageusia, oral pain,andburning7 d after diagnosisTelemedically: recurrent palatal HSV, white hairy tongue, nonspecific white lateral tongue lesionHealing after 3 w and double-negative PCR

NS: not specified; d: day; ACE: angiotensin-converting enzyme; w: week; Ex: examination; WBC: white blood cell; CRP: C-reactive protein; CT: computerized tomography; NSAID: nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug; HSV-1/HSV-2: herpes simplex virus 1 and 2; AB: antibody; EBV: Epstein–Barr virus; LAP: lymphadenopathy; ADPKD: autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease; ICU: intensive care unit; GI: gastrointestinal; HFMD: hand, foot, and mouth disease. A total of 53 COVID-19 hospitalized patients were reported to have oropharyngeal candidiasis, without detailed information for each individual patient [25].