Association of Viral Infections With Oral Cavity Lesions: Role of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Frontiers in Medicine

Massimo Libra¹  Eugenio Pedullಠ Giusy Rita Maria La Rosa²  Sebastiano Ferlito²  Rocco De Pasquale² 

[1] Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Oncologic, Clinic and General Pathology Section, University of Catania, Catania, Italy;Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy;

关键词: COVID-19;    novel coronavirus;    oral health;    oral lesions;    oral mucosa;    SARS-CoV-2;    viral infection;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmed.2020.571214

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Different viral agents, such as herpesviruses, human papillomavirus, and Coxsackie virus, are responsible for primary oral lesions, while other viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus, affect the oral cavity due to immune system weakness. Interestingly, it has been reported that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients can show cutaneous manifestations, including the oral cavity. However, the association between oral injuries and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is still unclear. This narrative review aimed to summarize the available literature and provide an overview of oral lesions associated with COVID-19. An online literature search was conducted to select relevant studies published up to November 2020. The results of 17 studies showed variability in oral lesions associated with COVID-19, including ulcerations, aphthous-like lesions, and macules. The tongue, lips, and palate were the most frequent anatomical locations. According to current knowledge, the etiopathogenesis of multiple COVID-19-associated lesions seems to be multifactorial. The appearance of such lesions could be related to the direct or indirect action of SARS-CoV-2 over the oral mucosa cells, coinfections, immunity impairment, and adverse drug reactions. Nevertheless, COVID-19-associated oral lesions may be underreported, mainly due to lockdown periods and the lack of mandatory dispositive protection. Consequently, further research is necessary to determine the diagnostic and pathological significance of oral manifestations of COVID-19. All medical doctors, dentists, and dermatologists are encouraged to perform an accurate and thorough oral examination of all suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases to recognize the disease's possible early manifestations.

【 授权许可】

CC BY