MoH orders investigation into cause of suspect COVID-19 related jawbone necrosis
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has ordered the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology and Cho Ray Hospital to set up a professional committee to clarify the cause of jawbone necrosis in patients with a history of COVID-19 infection.
A doctor of Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City gives advice to a woman recovering from jawbone necrosis before she is discharged from hospital. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Health (MoH) has ordered the Ho Chi Minh City Hospitalof Odonto-Stomatology and Cho Ray Hospital to set up a professional committeeto clarify the cause of jawbone necrosis in patients with a history of COVID-19 infection.
Theministry’s Department of Medical Examination and Treatment made the requestfollowing the news that some hospitals in HCM City discovered many patientswith abnormal infections in the skull, jaw and face after contracting COVID-19.
Thedepartment called on the directors of the two hospitals to promptly report onthe situation of patients with onecrosis of the jaw.
Aprofessional council must be set up to clarify the cause of the disease and thefactors involved. All results must be reported to the department as soon aspossible.
Thedepartment requires hospitals to pay attention to receiving, examining andtreating patients, and have accurate, scientific information, as well asmeasures to avoid confusion and instability among patients.
Previously,a dozen patients suffering from abnormal jawbone necrosis with unknown causeshave been reported at the Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City over the past twomonths.
The diseasemainly occurs in patients with a history of COVID-19, diabetes and takingcorticosteroids.
At the HCMCity Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology, patients have been hospitalised sinceFebruary 16 with the disease, including three patients with necrosis of the upperjaw that spread to the skull. These patients have been transferred to the Cho RayHospital for further treatment.
So far, 11cases have been found at the Cho Ray Hospital in the past two months. Thesepatients have suffered from necrosis of the skull and maxillofacial bone, aswell as inflammation and abnormal sinuses.
The patientswere admitted to the hospital with headaches, nasal congestion, and swelling ofthe face and eyes; all had a history of COVID-19 (Delta strain).
Approximately50% of these patients had diabetes. Two deaths have been recorded so far.
Currently,there is no evidence to prove that the recent cases of necrosis in the skull,jaw and face are caused by COVID-19.
The finalresults will be publicly announced.
There havebeen no recorded cases in Hanoi so far./.
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A doctor of Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City gives advice to a woman recovering from jawbone necrosis before she is discharged from hospital. (Photo: VNA) 
