One little-known side-effect of Covid-19 is a painful condition known as “Covid Tongue.” This term refers to a state of inflammation and swelling in the tongue. Bumps or ulcers are other common symptoms in patients experiencing this condition. Some patients may present with a white patchy tongue or redness and swelling. This condition notably impacts sufferers’ ability to taste food while living with Covid.
When a Swollen Tongue May Indicate COVID
Discovering your tongue is swollen doesn’t automatically mean you have Covid-19. Several conditions, including disease, can lead to a tongue becoming inflamed and swollen. However, it can’t hurt to take a Covid test if there is no discernable reason that your tongue should otherwise be experiencing symptoms.
Within our cells are enzymes called ACE receptors. SARS-CoV-2 targets these enzymes, making it possible for the virus to attack the cells. Once the virus has invaded the cell by attacking these receptors, it can multiply within the body and spread the illness. The tongue has many ACE receptors, making it a prime virus target. The inflammation, patchiness, and bumps result from the virus infesting the tongue.
Another common cause of inflammation in the tongue is a condition known as glossitis. It shares many symptoms with Covid Tongue, causing the tongue to become swollen and sore. However, this condition can occur due to other factors, including poor oral hygiene and allergies.
Some other conditions that can cause the tongue to become swollen and sore include:
- Mouth injuries
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Oral skin conditions
- Vitamin deficiencies
Due to the numerous reasons that your tongue may become swollen, it’s essential to check with your medical professional to diagnose the source correctly.
Covid has many symptoms, but according to the CDC, these are the more problematic symptoms you should look out for:
- Chills accompanying a high fever
- Exhaustion and fatigue
- Headaches
- Body aches
- Sore throat
- Nasal congestion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
The bottom line is that you don’t want to ignore bumps or inflammation of your tongue—but don’t panic if you develop one of these symptoms, either.
Treatments
Presently, no treatments explicitly target Covid Tongue, but some options may help. These approaches treat the inflammation and swelling in the tongue rather than the viral load itself.
- Keep up a solid oral hygiene routine
- Narrow down potential allergy triggers
- Maintain a steady course of prescribed antibiotics
- Consider supplementing your diet with vitamins
It’s likely that successfully treating Covid will also lead to the elimination of Covid Tongue symptoms. Throughout the illness, be sure that you’re taking cold medication, getting sufficient rest, and hydrating regularly.
Contact Your Physician If You Suspect Covid
If you’re experiencing swelling and inflammation of the tongue accompanied by typical symptoms associated with Covid, get tested immediately. While the underlying cause may not be a Covid infection, eliminating this possibility will help narrow down the source. By eliminating potential causes, you and your doctor can quickly find an appropriate treatment plan to bring you effective relief. Stay ahead of Covid by calling and scheduling an appointment with your physician today!
Make the holidays brighter by taking the time to care for yourself and your family’s health. Taking these steps to care for your health is one of the most crucial ways of preparing for the holidays.
Tips For Ensuring Your Family’s Health During The Holiday Months
Here are some recommendations that we can provide to ensure that your family is healthy during the holidays:
- Wash Your Hands: Washing our hands is vital to circumvent the spread of germs. It’s flu season, after all. Washing your hands with soap and hot water for 20 seconds should do the trick.
- Layering: Bundling up is an excellent way to stay warm and dry, especially outdoors. You should always wear the appropriate outdoor attire, such as warm layers, gloves, hats, scarves, and waterproof boots.
- Manage Your Stress: Giving yourself a break is essential if you feel stressed out or overwhelmed. The best ways of managing stress are to rely on friends or family, connect socially, and get plenty of rest.
- Don’t Drink and Drive: Never drive drunk, and don’t let others drive drunk. When someone is drunk driving, they’re putting everyone on the road in danger, not just themselves. Choosing not to drink and drive and helping others do the same can make for a safer holiday.
- Avoid Smoking: Be smoke-free. Avoid smoking and second-hand smoke. Smokers have more significant health risks because of tobacco use, but nonsmokers are also prone to the risk when exposed to second-hand smoke from cigarettes and pipes.
- Wear Your Seatbelt: Fastening your seat belt while driving or riding in a motorized vehicle is one of the necessary methods to being safe. Always buckle your children up in the vehicle using infant and toddler car seats, booster seats, or seat belts regarding their height, weight, and age. Buckling up all the time, regardless of how short the trip is, and encouraging the other passengers to do the same will keep you all safe.
- Get Regular Checkups: Talk to your doctor about the necessary exams and when to get them. Updating your personal and family history is essential.
- Get Vaccinated: Getting vaccinated will help prevent catching diseases and help save lives. Everyone from a child aged six months to adults in their later years should get a flu shot every year.
- Keep Your Children Safe: Keeping potentially dangerous items out of your children’s reach will aid in protecting them from drowning, burns falls, and other potential accidents.
- Learn Fire Safety: Most residential fires occur during the winter, so never leave wood-burning fireplaces, candles, space heaters, or food cooking on stoves unattended. Create an emergency plan with your family and rehearse it frequently.
- Safely prepare your foods by washing them, peeling them, and washing your hands.
- Healthy Diet and Exercise: Eating fruits and vegetables which pack lots of nutrients and aid in lowering the risk for certain diseases. Limiting foods high in sugar, salt, and fat will benefit your overall health. Be active for at least two and a half hours a week and help your kids and teens to be active for a minimum of an hour each day.
Visit Your Doctor Today For Your Regular Checkup!
Keep yourself inspired to stay in the spirit of good holiday health by calling Conroe Family Doctor today! Through our physicians, we can provide your family with the checkups they need to celebrate the holiday season in good health.
From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been more critical than ever to take appropriate care of our health. Taking the time to get your flu vaccine each year is an excellent way of doing this. Everyone can benefit from the flu shot; those with impaired immune systems, the very young, and the elderly benefit most. Getting the flu can be life-threatening to these individuals. Even those with healthy immune systems are at increased risk of contracting COVID while fighting the flu. While the pandemic seems to be waning as time passes, protecting your health with a flu shot is still important.
Receiving the Flu Shot During The Pandemic
Getting the flu vaccine does not provide direct protection against COVID-19. However, studies show that those struggling with the flu are more likely to contract COVID. This is especially true in severe cases where flu patients must be admitted to hospitals and exposed to those battling COVID. Even when this isn’t a concern, you must avoid contracting the flu as much as possible. The flu shot protects you from influenza virus types A and B.
Common Questions About The Flu vaccine:
- When Should I Get The Flu Shot? – Every year there is a new flu vaccine released. This vaccine is calibrated to fight those strains of influenza projected to be the most common in the coming year. It’s often available in August or September and can be received through the end of the flu season.
- When Is Flu Season? – It’s possible to develop the flu at any time of year, though it occurs most frequently in December through February. However, the flu can occur any time of year, so it pays to take care.
- What If I Contract The Flu Anyway? – Those who have received the flu vaccine report reduced the seriousness of symptoms and shorter recovery times.
- Is It Possible To Be Immune To The Flu? – No evidence currently suggests that flu immunity can be developed naturally. It has a high mutation rate and appears in numerous strains each year.
- What Strains Does The Vaccine Prevent? – As new strains of the virus appear each year, the vaccine is tailored to different ones each year. Those selected are those assessed to be the most likely to produce the highest risk to the population.
The battle with the influenza virus is never-ending. While it can be life-threatening, it isn’t as dangerous as COVID-19. However, it can become life-threatening in certain situations or when the young or elderly are infected.
Work With Your Physician To Get The Flu Shot
If you’re concerned about getting the flu shot, contact your physician. They’ll be able to provide you with up-to-date information and schedule a time for you to get vaccinated. It’s vital to protect the ones you love from contracting the flu and reduce their risk of contracting COVID. Call and schedule your vaccination at Conroe Family Doctor today!
