The Effect of Infection SARS-COV-2 on the Condition of the Salivary Glands – A Retrospective Study

SARS-CoV-2 promotes the occurrence of short and long-term changes in the oral cavity. This study aimed to present the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the salivary glands.

The study group included 138 patients with mild COVID-19 who had various pathologies in the salivary glands. All these patients were treated with antiviral and moisturising agents; some received antibiotics, substances supporting saliva secretion, and saliva substitutes, and some had photobiomodulation and massage of salivary glands.

In the studied group, statistical significance (α≤0.05) was found for xerostomia, ectasia, and sialadenitis, and other changes were statistically insignificant (α>0.05). Severe dryness was observed in 10% of patients, moderate in 28.33%, and mild in 61.66%. Ectasia was found in 29.71% of cases, sialadenitis in 10%, Sjogren's syndrome in 6.5%, neoplasm in 3.62%, and recurrent sialadenitis was found in 6.5%.

The conducted study indicates that changes located in the salivary glands after SARS-CoV-2 infection are characterized by clinical diversity, occur more often in women, and may be recurrent. Salivary disorders in patients with and after COVID-19 are they impair here quality of oral health and affect the sense of taste, and cause difficulties in eating food. and increase the risk of mental disorders.

The diseases of the large salivary glands are a significant problem during COVID-19. In the absence of pain and systemic symptoms, observation should be carried out for 4 weeks and wait for spontaneous disappearance. With the simultaneous occurrence of various pathological changes, the patient should be referred for specialist treatment.