A multi-country study on the impact of sex and age on oral features of COVID-19 infection in adolescents and young adults.

BACKGROUND: Oral diseases are features of COVID-19 infection. There is, however, little known about oral diseases associated with COVID-19 in adolescents and young adults (AYA). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess oral lesions' association with COVID-19 infection in AYA; and to identify if sex and age will modify these associations. METHODOLOGY: Data was collected for this cross-sectional study between August 2020 and January 2021 from 11-to-23 years old participants in 43-countries using an electronic validated questionnaire developed in five languages. Data collected included information on the dependent variables (the presence of oral conditions- gingival inflammation, dry mouth, change in taste and oral ulcers), independent variable (COVID-19 infection) and confounders (age, sex, history of medical problems and parents' educational level). Multilevel binary logistic regression was used for analysis. RESULTS: Complete data were available for 7164 AYA, with 7.5% reporting a history of COVID-19 infection. A significantly higher percentage of participants with a history of COVID-19 infection than those without COVID-19 infection reported having dry mouth (10.6% vs 7.3%, AOR = 1.31) and taste changes (11.1% vs 2.7%, AOR = 4.11). There was a significant effect modification in the association between COVID-19 infection and the presence of dry mouth and change in taste by age and sex (P = 0.02 and < 0.001). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 infection was associated with dry mouth and change in taste among AYA and the strength of this association differed by age and sex. These oral conditions may help serve as an index for suspicion of COVID-19 infection in AYA.

Syzygium aromaticum as a bactericidal candidate: effects on the oral microbiota / Syzygium aromaticum como candidato a bactericida: efectos en la microbiota oral

El cavo de olor (Syzygium aromaticum) es un árbol, originario de Indonesia, con altura variable, pero que sobre pasa los 10 metros de altura, perteneciente a la familia de las Myrtaceae y cuyas flores que no han abierto, se convierten en botones, que al secar son los mencionados clavos de olor. Poseen como componente principal el Eugenol, entre otros compuestos orgánicos. Por sus características bioquímicas y organolépticas, le proporcionan varios beneficios para la salud, por actuar como estimulantes, antioxidante, con acción antibacterial, antiespasmódicas, además de su marcada acción analgésica y anestésica. Por su parte, la microbiota oral, está conformada por un amplio conjunto de microorganismos pertenecientes al ecosistema bucal y que a través del equilibrio de los mismos, se logrará un adecuado funcionamiento y desarrollo de las funciones fisiológicas en pro de la salud bucal del individuo. La presente investigación tiene como objetivo examinar los datos específicos en el uso del clavo de olor como agente bactericida en las afecciones bucodentales, encontrándose que si puede ser usado como agente bactericida por su marcado efecto sobre la microbiota oral a nivel de eliminar los microorganismos nocivos presentes en la misma, ya que actúa inhibiendo la recomposición de las proteínas, los ácidos nucleicos y la membrana de la pared celular, cambiando la permeabilidad de las células de los microorganismos, favoreciendo su muerte y a su ves favoreciendo el adecuado equilibrio de la microbiota oral, necesario para la adecuada salud bucodental(AU)

The clove (Syzygium aromaticum) is a tree, native to Indonesia, with variable height, but that exceeds 10 meters in height, belonging to the Myrtaceae family and whose flowers that have not opened, become buttons, that when drying are the aforementioned cloves. Their main component is Eugenol, among other organic compounds. Due to their biochemical and organoleptic characteristics, they provide several health benefits, for acting as stimulants, antioxidant, with antibacterial, antispasmodic action, in addition to their marked analgesic and anesthetic action. For its part, the oral microbiota is made up of a wide set of microorganisms belonging to the oral ecosystem and that through their balance, an adequate functioning and development of physiological functions will be achieved in favor of the oral health of the individual. The objective of this research is to examine the specific data on the use of cloves as a bactericidal agent in oral conditions, finding that it can be used as a bactericidal agent due to its marked effect on the oral microbiota at the level of eliminating harmful microorganisms present in it, since it acts by inhibiting the recomposition of proteins, nucleic acids and the cell wall membrane, changing the permeability of the cells of microorganisms, favoring their death and in turn favoring the proper balance of the oral microbiota, necessary for proper oral health(AU)

Oral mucosal lesions in a COVID-19 patient: New signs or secondary manifestations?

Some oral manifestations have been observed in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is still a question about whether these lesions are due to coronavirus infection or secondary manifestations resulting from the patient's systemic condition. Thus, this article aims to report an additional case of an oral condition in a patient diagnosed with COVID-19. Our patient, a sixty-seven-year-old Caucasian man, tested positive to coronavirus and presented oral manifestations such as recurrent herpes simplex, candidiasis, and geographic tongue. We support the argument that some oral conditions could be secondary to the deterioration of systemic health or due to treatments for COVID-19. The present case report highlights the importance of including dentists in the intensive care unit multi-professional team to improve oral health in critical patients, not only COVID-19 patients, but also, to contribute to evidence-based and decision-making in managing infectious diseases.