Many of us are aware of the most common symptoms of COVID-19 that made headlines at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. A persistent cough, loss of taste and smell and fatigue were some of the telltale signs to spot.
However, there are some more unusual symptoms of Covid that you might not have known about, including one on the tongue.
According to the Zoe Health Study, which was a survey launched in 2020 to track any emerging symptoms and trends of the virus, “Covid tongue” is a sign of infection.
This is the phrase for any changes to the mouth or tongue caused by Covid. More specifically, “many” people reported that their tongue was white and patchy and “didn’t look normal”.
One of the co-founders of Zoe, Professor Tim Spector, shared a picture of a white and patchy tongue on X, the site formerly known as Twitter.
He captioned it: “One in five people with Covid still present with less common symptoms that don’t get on the official Public Health England list – such as skin rashes. Seeing increasing numbers of Covid tongues and strange mouth ulcers.”
A scientific review of studies, published in Dermatologic Therapy journal in 2020, also noted a number of changes in the mouth linked to Covid.
Researchers found that having a dry mouth was the most common issue, followed by loss of taste (dysgeusia) and a fungal infection (oral thrush).
They also described changes in tongue sensation, muscle pain while chewing, swelling in the mouth, and ulcers on the tongue or inner surface of the mouth and lips, although these were less common.
A separate study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, showed that within a group of 666 Spanish patients hospitalised with COVID-19, a quarter of them had changes to their mouth or tongue.
Medical News Today also reports that Covid tongue could cause swelling, a burning sensation, and rough, bumpy surface skin on the tongue.
It is not known exactly why Covid tongue occurs but infections, in general, can cause changes to the oral cavity.
The symptom is reported to go away once the Covid infection has passed, which usually takes around two weeks.
Some over-the-counter treatments have been shown to help, including:
- Antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial mouthwashes for white patches and ulcers
- Saliva substitutes for dry mouth
- Lozenges to trigger saliva production
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen for tongue swelling and pain.
However, if the problem persists after two weeks it is worth speaking to your GP.
In recent weeks, health experts have voiced concern over the new FLiRT Covid variant that is thought to have caused a surge in cases in the UK.
Some hospitals have also reintroduced face masks and others are telling people to stay away if they experience Covid symptoms.
The most recent data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows deaths and hospitalisations due to Covid have increased in England.
In the week up to June 28, there were 2,797 Covid patients admitted to hospital, 61 patients more than in the previous week. In the same period there were 168 deaths, 25 more than the week before.