MADRID, Spain – Changes to the tongue, hands, or soles of the feet may be an early indication of Covid-19 infection, Spanish researchers discovered in a study presented Tuesday.
The conclusions emerged from research conducted among 666 patients with Covid-19 at Madrid’s IFEMA field hospital, set up during the first wave of the pandemic, the regional government said.
One in four patients said they noticed changes in their tongue, while four in 10 saw unusual marks on the palms or soles of the feet.
The study was conducted in April by health professionals at La Paz Hospital and Primary Care in Madrid, and the findings were published in September in the British Journal of Dermatology in the form of a “research letter”.
Some patients have reported swelling of the tongue and the appearance of spots, in what is called ‘Covid tongue’, which in many cases was associated with loss of taste.
Another symptom was a burning sensation and redness on the palms or soles of the feet, which in some cases were followed by the appearance of small spots.
“Nearly half of the patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 admitted to a field hospital over a two-week period had mucocutaneous findings,” the letter said.
“The oral cavity has often been involved and, under the right conditions, deserves specific examination to avoid the risk of contamination.”
du / hmw / mg / bp
© Agence France-Presse
COVID-19, Coronavirus, Loss of Smell, Loss of Taste, COVID Tongue, Covid Symptoms, Madrid, Spain, COVID-19 Symptoms, Symptoms