A research team in the United States revealed evidence of infection of the novel coronavirus on the inside of the cheek, gums, and mouth, including salivary glands, on the 25th, pointing out the possibility of spreading the infection into the body through saliva. The results of this study were published in the medical magazine’Nature Medicine’, and it is likely to be a factor explaining the reason why most infected people lose their taste.
Dr Kevin Byrd of the American Academy of Dental Sciences, who participated in the study, said the novel coronavirus could spread to the throat, lungs and intestines by swallowing or inhaling saliva particles infected with the virus. Saliva testing is known to be effective in detecting corona infection, but so far researchers have not tried to clarify the reason. The mouth, nose, throat, and lungs are all connected, and the virus can spread to these areas through mucus discharge.
In this study, as a result of examining the tissues of the mouth, it was found that receptors such as angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2), which are the entrance to the novel coronavirus, are contained in the cells in the oral cavity. In addition, the virus was found in about half of the salivary glands as a result of examining tissue samples from people who died of the novel corona. In addition, as a result of examination of mild or asymptomatic patients, it was found that active RNA was contained in cells excreted from the mouth into saliva. This indicates that the virus is proliferating within the cell.
Saliva used for the investigation was collected from 35 people with mild or asymptomatic corona infection who worked at the National Institute of Hygiene (NIH). In symptomatic patients, a clear relationship was recognized between reports of loss of taste and smell and novel coronavirus RNA in saliva.
Gyeongsu Kim, Editor-in-Chief of Global Economics [email protected]