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Case Reports
. 2022 Mar:37:102678.
doi: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102678. Epub 2021 Dec 8.

Phototherapies for COVID-19-associated opportunistic oral infections

Giuseppina Berlingieri  1 , Cristina Maria Arvate Alvares  2 , Rafael Verardi Serrano  3 , Luiz Felipe Palma  3 , Luana Campos  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Phototherapies for COVID-19-associated opportunistic oral infections

Giuseppina Berlingieri et al. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Opportunistic infections are widely described in patients with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, very few studies have addressed those affecting the oral cavity. Given the lack of information on the clinical presentations and the available treatment options, the present study aimed to show a case in which a combination of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) was used for the management of two concomitant COVID-19-associated opportunistic oral infections (oral pseudomembranous candidiasis and recurrent herpes labialis). Within 7 days and without any systemic drug administration, all the lesions resolved completely, and the patient no longer reported oral pain or discomfort. According to the current case report and taking into consideration the significant gaps in the knowledge and understanding of COVID-19, this combination of phototherapy modalities seems to be a promising tool for managing viral and fungal opportunistic oral infections.

Keywords: Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy; COVID-19; Candidiasis; Herpes Labialis; Photobiomodulation therapy; SARS-CoV-2.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Clinical appearance: oral pseudomembranous candidiasis and recurrent herpes labialis lesions. A, B. At diagnosis; C,D. 72 h after the first laser session; E,F. 7 days after the first laser session, showing the lesions completely resolved.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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