A Comparative Study of Oral Thrush and Other Oral Complications among COVID 19 Positive Patients
Authors: Mazumder Mohammad Zahidur Rahman , Rahman Mohammad Arifur , Rabbi Mohammad Mahiuddin Fazle , Bhuiyan Mohammed Abdur Rahim , Hossain Mohammad Anayet , Salma Mst. Ummay 
Published: October 2022

Background: Oral disease is a worldwide problem that causes agony, tooth loss, deformity, and death. Even though acute pseudomembranous candidiasis, or thrush, is the most common oral candidiasis, other types exist and candida infection may present as white and erythematous sores. White lesions include acute pseudomembranous and chronic hyperplastic candidiasis; red lesions include acute and chronic erythematous candidiasis, angular cheilitis, median rhomboid glossitis, and linear gingival erythema. Candida albicans is a major health hazard. This species causes a variety of ailments, from vaginal infections that affect 75% of women at least once to severe hospital infections that cause morbidity and mortality. As a consequence of the COVID-19 epidemic, several patients have suffered ARDS, which threatens superinfections. According to WHO estimates, the total number of confirmed cases will approach 240 million by October 19, 2021, and the cumulative number of fatalities would exceed 4.8 million. SARS-CoV-2 causes lung illness and systemic consequences. Respiratory and heart issues killed several. Candida strains produce invasive fungal infections. In COVID-19, invasive yeast infections (IYIs) are common. Despite COVID-19's immune system failure, no abnormalities in the cellular and humoral immune cells essential to fight Candida have been found. Oral lesion, taste loss, and tooth loss have all been linked to COVID-19. Methods: This study was comparative study. This study comprised 25–90-year-olds diagnosed with moderate to severe COVID-19 and hospitalized in covid ICU at Comilla Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh. The assessment followed inclusion/exclusion criteria. Sample size was obtained using a calculator with a 0.05 standard error and 95% confidence. Chest imaging and RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19. Comparing 100 patients with oral thrush and associated oral issues. Data entry will utilize SPSS and Excel. SPSS 23 will be used for data analysis. Excel and JASP will be available for any complications. Result: Oral thrush is the most prevalent, 61 (64.2%). Second most prevalent is inflamed gum, 26 (27.4%). Teeth mobility is the 3rd most common complication among the COVID-19 patients, 11 (11.6%). Other complication such as dental pain, foul smell, burning sensation, aphthous ulcer, teeth sensibility; 8 (8.4%), 3 (3.2%), 2 (2.1%), 4 (4.2%) and 2 (2.1%), were also present, respectively. Conclusion: In severely sick COVID-19 patients, oral thrush, loose teeth, and inflamed gums were the most often reported problems. The extended prone posture and mechanical breathing equipment utilized in the ICU environment may have contributed to these oral problems. Therefore, it is highly recommended that a multidisciplinary approach be used for the monitoring and treatment of COVID-19, which implies that nurses and oral healthcare professionals should be included in the ICU teams