the Prevalence of Oral Manifestation in Patients With SARS-CoV2 Infection

The oral cavity is particularly susceptible to viral infection with several viruses such as herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus and Zika virus because of its structures, especially salivary glands and soft tissues . Moreover, oral mucosa can be affected by secondary pathological process of a bacterial or fungal nature due to viral immunosuppression. The oral cavity could be considered a "biological barometer" of both viral infection and viral immunosuppression advancement .

The SARS-Cov2 virus was identified in china at the end of 2019 and spread worldwide causing a global pandemic. Current research showed that SARS-Cov2 virus invades human cells via the receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) through scRNA-seq data analyses. The study identified the organs that are at risk and are vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, cells with ACE2 receptor distribution may become host cells for the virus and cause inflammatory response in related organs and tissues, such as the tongue mucosa and salivary glands. These results suggest that oral mucosa could be a target of SARS-CoV-2 infection .

Although many authors reported the presence of oral lesion associated with SARS-CoV2 infection, the prevalence of the oral manifestation and the range of oral manifestation are still unknown. Further studies are necessary to better understanding of the symptoms of the SARS-CoV2 virus in order to faster detection. A multidisciplinary team following the patients could be the key in treatment of the infection and faster recovery.