Comparative analysis of oral manifestations of Covid 19.

Background: Covid patients experience changes in overall health and very less is known about variation in oral manifestations as per severity of Covid and how far it differs, which needs evaluation.

Aim: To analyse COVID-19 hospitalized patients for variations in clinical, demographic details, and oral manifestations as per severity of involvement (mild, moderate, and severe).

Patients and methods: This prospective study had 12 participants of RT-PCR positive COVID in each group, and hence, 36 participants were selected for mild, moderate, and severe cases. All patients' data were noted from the first day of hospitalization until completion of treatment, with a follow-up of a minimum of 7 days.

Results: In our study, the M: F ratio was 5:4 with a mean age of 39.44 years. The most common oral sites involved were labial mucosa, followed by buccal mucosa. In all mild, moderate, and severe cases, there was a significant association of labial mucosa (P = 0.038) and buccal mucosa (P = 0.011). COVID participants had sublingual varicosity, burning sensation, aphthous ulcers, mucositis, angular chelitis, coated tongue, candidiasis, dryness of the oral cavity, herpes labialis, geographic and fissured tongue.

Conclusion: Results show that oral manifestations and the well-being of patients worsen from mild to severe cases of COVID-19, poor oral hygiene, and multiple drug therapy for illness contribute to the same. These findings have significant implications for understanding oral manifestations as per variation in severity of COVID-19, with a multidisciplinary approach for management of COVID-19.