MADRID, Spain – Changes in tongue, hands or soles could give an early indication of Covid-19 infection, Spanish researchers found in a study presented on Tuesday.
The findings emerged from research conducted on 666 patients with Covid-19 at the IFEMA field hospital in Madrid, created during the first wave of the pandemic, the regional government said.
One in four patients said they had noticed changes in the tongue, while four in ten saw unusual signs on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet.
The study was conducted in April by health professionals from the La Paz Hospital and Primary Care Services in Madrid, with findings published in the British Journal of Dermatology in the form of a “research letter” in September.
Some patients reported inflammation of the tongue and the appearance of spots, in what has been called “covid tongue,” which was often associated with a loss of taste.
Another symptom was a burning and reddening sensation in the palms or soles of the feet, which in some cases was followed by the appearance of small imperfections.
“Nearly half of patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 admitted to a field hospital over a two-week period showed mucocutaneous findings,” the letter said.
“The oral cavity was frequently involved and deserves specific examination under appropriate circumstances to avoid the risk of infection.”
du / hmw / mg / pb
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