Cytomorphometric Changes of Buccal Exfoliated Pap Stained Smears among COVID-19 Recovered Patients; Sudan 2022

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: COVID-19 is known to cause various changes in oral mucosa which can be detected by exfoliative cytology. The present study aimed to determine the cytomorphometric change of oral mucosa exfoliated Pap-stained smears for COVID-19 recovered patients at Khartoum state 2022. Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative, community-based study conducted at Khartoum State. Eighty (80) participants who recovered from COVID-19 enrolled in the study as cases and twenty (20) healthy participants as the control group. Results: In the present study the ages of the participants ranged between 19-75 years. Mean was significantly different in cytoplasm diameter (CD), nucleus diameter (ND), and nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio (N/CR) between the patients who recovered from COVID-19 versus the healthy group (69.71μm versus 37.45μm, P. value= 0.001; 10.02μm versus 6.05μm, P. value= 001; and 28.9 μm versus 18.0μm, P. value= 0.016) respectively. Conclusion: The marked changes in cytomorphometric parameters caused by infection with COVID-19 prove that infection with the virus causes changes in the buccal mucosa. These findings will help in the screening and diagnosis of the disease.