PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE MUCOUS MEMBRANE OF THE ORAL CAVITY IN CORONAVIRUS INFECTION

Afakova Ma'mura Shuxratovna; Ilhomov Asilbek Xurshidovich

doi:10.31149/ijnps.v4i6.2928

Authors

Afakova Ma'mura Shuxratovna Tashkent State Medical University
Ilhomov Asilbek Xurshidovich Tashkent State Medical University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31149/ijnps.v4i6.2928

Keywords:

Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, Oral Mucosa, Spontaneous Infection, Animal Model, Pathological Manifestations

Abstract

Outbreaks of viral respiratory and gastrointestinal infections present major public health and economic challenges. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 highlighted the capacity of coronaviruses to induce secondary systemic inflammatory processes, notably within the oral cavity. While manifestations like ulcers and taste disorders are documented in COVID-19 patients, identifying definitive diagnostic models, transmission reservoirs, and viral persistence limits our comprehension of human coronavirus pathology and oral mucosal alterations. A retrospective single-center study analyzed 120 laboratory-confirmed, moderately severe COVID-19 patients (aged 25–65). Additionally, pathomorphological and virus-immunological features were evaluated in 6 macaques exhibiting spontaneous coronavirus infection to explore comparative human-monkey modeling parameters. Laboratory data of human patients showed elevated C-reactive protein (44.15 ± 31.8 mg/dl) and fibrinogen (7.96 ± 1.6 g/l). Animal observations confirmed persistent coronavirus shedding in feces for 5–20 months , which correlated with antibody titer spikes , respiratory damage , and high mortality from secondary bacterial dysentery. Oral examinations of COVID-19 patients revealed tongue plaque in 88.8% , attached gum pigmentation in 40% , facial xeroderma and angular cheilitis in 13.9% , and hemorrhagic manifestations in 8.7%. Changes in the oral mucosa are secondary manifestations driven by disease progression and antibiotic regimens rather than primary viral causes. Spontaneous monkey infection provides a strong model for human coronavirus progression. Incorporating dental evaluations into standard clinical assessments for COVID-19 is essential due to the diagnostic value of oral mucosal alterations.

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