If you notice this on your tongue, it could be the first sign of COVID

From “COVID toes” to loss of smell and taste, the new coronavirus is known for its bizarre array of symptoms. But few are as strange as the “COVID tongue,” a collection of peculiar oral symptoms that, in rare cases, result from the virus. Tim spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, recently took to Twitter to highlight the subtle symptoms, which he said should be seen as potential red flags for COVID cases. Read on to learn more about Spector’s warning, and for other early symptoms to look out for, see These are the most common early signs of COVID, study finds.

As the epidemiologist explains, signs of the COVID tongue can include swelling, ulcers, a painful rash, “scalloped” indentations on the sides of the tongue, or a white or yellow “coat of fur” on it. the tongue that is not fixed by brushing.

“Seeing increasing number of COVID languages and weird mouth ulcers, “Spector advised in a Jan. 13 tweet.” If you have a strange symptom or even just a headache and fatigue, stay home! “

Although he believes the COVID tongue is relatively rare, affecting about one in 500 COVID patients, Spector says any strange symptoms should be treated with caution. These rare presentations of the virus underscore how widespread the symptoms of COVID can be – a fact that may encourage people to stay home even in the absence of more typical COVID symptoms, such as a cough or fever.

Based on his work as the lead investigator of the ZOE COVID Symptom Study, an app that allows people to report their symptoms to a database, Spector shared with NBC News that he believes that at less than a third of COVID-19 patients had atypical symptoms as early as the first three days after infection.

“It’s a good reminder that there are so many different manifestations of this virus rather than just classic manifestations,” he recently told the outlet.

Wondering what other rare symptoms should be on your radar? Read on for more surprising symptoms of COVID, and for more on the long COVID symptoms you need to know, check out The Terrifying Long COVID Symptom Doctors are now on the alert.

Men should be on the lookout for inflammation of the testicles as a possible symptom of COVID, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic. “As with previous coronaviruses, viral binding to the ACE2 receptor in the testis can lead to tissue inflammation and the development of orchi-epididymitis with testicular pain,” says a study published in the journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online. This can continue to cause “testicular damage and orchitis,” the researchers say. And to learn more about how the virus is affecting this part of your body, see You may never be able to do this after surviving COVID, study finds.

In at least two documented COVID cases, a prolonged episode of hiccups was the only visible symptom. Both patients had the hiccups for over 72 hours and four days, respectively, before seeking emergency medical attention at the hospital. Each received a chest x-ray and determined that they had “ground glass opacities” in their lungs, a sign of pneumonia. Both patients then tested positive for COVID. And for more subtle COVID symptoms to add to your list, see If this part of your body hurts, you might have COVID.

Delirium is not usually associated with COVID-19, but researchers have increasingly found that many elderly patients (and some younger patients) have this neurological symptom. “Delirium is a state of confusion in which the person feels disconnected from reality, as if he is dreaming”, Javier Correa, PhD, a researcher on such a recent study, said in a statement. “We need to be on the alert, especially in an epidemiological situation like this, because an individual showing certain signs of confusion can be a sign of infection.” And for more regular COVID updates sent straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.

There are many possible explanations for hair loss besides COVID, but experts say this subtle symptom can mean you’ve recently been infected. This is because COVID can be so traumatic for our bodies, Sara hogan, MD, a clinical instructor in health sciences at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, recently told WebMD.

“You can have this major event, and then maybe three to five months later you suddenly start noticing the outpouring,” Hogan explains. And for other ways to spot a case of COVID early, check out The Early Signs You Have COVID, According to the Mayo Clinic.