COVID-19-Related Burning Eye Syndrome and Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Overview

Journal Pain Ther

Date 2023 Mar 14

PMID 36917411

Authors

Laura D Williams

Panagiotis Zis

Affiliations

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Abstract

Background: Previous research highlights burning eye syndrome (BES) and burning mouth syndrome (BMS) as chronic complications of COVID-19 infection. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to establish the prevalence of COVID-19-related BES and COVID-19-related BMS and describe their phenomenology.

Methodology: A literature search in the PubMed database was performed, and seven papers (five on BES and two on BMS) were eligible to be included in this systematic review and meta-analysis.

Results: The pooled prevalence of COVID-19-related BES was 9.9% (95% CI 3.4-25.4%). The frequency of COVID-19-related BMS is only reported in isolated cases and ranges from 4% in mild-to-moderate cases to 15% in severe, hospitalized cases, with female patients being mostly affected. COVID-19 severity is a potential risk factor for both BES and BMS. Neither syndrome occurs in isolation. COVID-19-related BES usually appears within the first week post-infection, persisting up to 9 weeks later. COVID-19-related BMS occurs during and after initial infection, and may also persist as a chronic disease.

Conclusions: Both BES and BMS are neuropathic COVID-19 infection complications, still under-studied and under-investigated, despite the fact that both are prevalent. Both COVID-19-related BES and COVID-19-related BMS could potentially be initial long COVID syndrome manifestations, and further research should be carried out in this field.

Citing Articles

[Interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy in postviral syndromes and ME/CFS : Features, pitfalls and model concept].

Luchting B, Behrends U, Eigner B, Stojanov S, Warlitz C, Haegele M Schmerz. 2023; 38(3):183-189.

PMID: 37864020 PMC: 11116220. DOI: 10.1007/s00482-023-00761-2.

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