Covid-19: A New Cause for Taste and Smell Dysfunction

The Medical journal of Malaysia, 2020

Multiple anecdotal reports suggest that smell and taste loss were early subclinical symptoms of COVID-19 patients. The objective of this review was to identify the incidence of smell and taste dysfunction in COVID-19, determine the onset of their symptoms and the risk factors of anosmia, hyposmia, ageusia or dysgeusia for COVID-19 infection. We searched the PubMed and Google Scholar on 15th May 2020, with search terms including SARS-COV-2, coronavirus, COVID-19, hyposmia, anosmia, ageusia and dysgeusia. The articles included were cross sectional studies, observational studies and retrospective or prospective audits, letters to editor and short communications that included a study of a cohort of patients. Case reports, case-series and interventional studies were excluded. A total of 16 studies were selected. Incidence of smell and taste dysfunction was higher in Europe (34 to 86%), North America (19 to 71%) and the Middle East (36 to 98%) when compared to the Asian cohorts (11 to 15%...

Turkish Archives of Otorhinolaryngology

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 pandemic is one of the largest of the recent times and can cause many symptoms including smell and taste disorders. In the literature, smell disorders caused by coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) have been reported within a wide range from 3.2% to 98.3%. A small number of these studies demonstrated smell and taste disorders through objective tests. Our aim in this study was to determine the prevalence of smell and taste disorders in hospitalized patients due to COVID-19 infection. The study was carried out with 100 patients who were positive for real-time polymerase chain reaction and treated at the Kayseri City Hospital, and 100 healthcare worker relatives. We used the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center test to evaluate the sense of smell. Sense of taste was evaluated using four different standardized bottles of preparations, and the results were scored according to the patients' statements. Results: Patient (Group 1) and control (Group 2) groups were compared for age, gender, smell and taste disorders. There were 39 women and 61 men in the patient group, and 40 women and 60 men in the control group. Mean age was 50.2±1.37 (range 21-70) years in Group 1 and 47.6±1.25 (range 18-70) years in Group 2, and there was no significant difference between the two groups. While the rate of smell disorder was 80% in Group 1, we found this rate as 35% in Group 2. Taste disturbance was identified in 38 patients, of whom 16 had mild hypogeusia, 17 had moderate hypogeusia, four had severe hypogeusia, and one patient had ageusia. We found that taste disorder was 38% in Group 1 and 3% in Group 2. Smell and taste dysfunctions are very common symptoms in COVID-19 patients. The results obtained using objective test methods are higher than the rates obtained from patient statements.

International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 2020

Background: Olfactory (OD) and gustatory (GD) dysfunction have been proven to be a typical symptom of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. However, their prevalence in different patient populations still needs to be clarified. A cross-sectional study was performed from March 27 to April 1, 2020, in Northern Italy. Physicians administered a survey-based questionnaire to SARS-CoV-2positive patients with the aim of assessing symptoms, focusing on OD and GD. Two groups were studied: group A, patients hospitalized at Azianda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale (ASST) Spedali Civili University Hospital of Brescia; and group B, home-quarantined subjects. Results: A total of 508 patients were enrolled: 295 in group A and 213 in group B. Mean age ± standard deviation (SD) was 55 ± 15 years; 56% were men. Overall, OD and GD were present in 56% (95% confidence interval [CI], 51% to 60%) and 63% (95% CI, 59% to 67%) of cases, respectively. In group A, the prevalence of OD and GD was 44% (95% CI, 38% to 50%) and 52% (95% CI, 46% to 58%), respectively. In group B, the prevalence of OD and GD was 72% (95% CI, 65% to 79%) and 79% (95% CI, 73% to 84%), respectively. In the entire cohort, total loss of olfaction and taste was reported in 64% and 60% of cases, respectively. OD and GD occurred as the first symptom in 10% and 11% of cases, respectively; in the remaining cases, they occurred a er a mean of 4 ± 3 days following the first symptom. At the time of the questionnaire, complete resolution of OD and GD was reported in 52% and 55% of cases, respectively (mean duration, 9 ± 5 days in both). OD and GD are more prevalent in homequarantined subjects, and they are independently associated with younger age and female gender. C 2020 ARS- AAOA, LLC.

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology

Objective It is known that the COVID-19 disease, which has affected the whole world, causes symptoms, such as cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle pain, fatigue, diarrhea, headache and sore throat, in addition to various clinical findings, such as loss of smell and taste. In this study, we aimed to reveal the loss of sense of taste and smell in COVID-19 patients and to investigate whether these sensory losses are permanent in the healing process of the disease. Method This prospective study included 94 COVID-19 patients. Smell and taste tests were applied to all patients. Ten days after the first test, a second test was applied to the patients with an impaired sense of smell to compare the results. Results Of the 94 patients, 55.3% were male, and the mean age was 53 ± 19.6 (21-90) years. There were 67 patients with smell and taste impairment, of whom 34 (50.7%) had smell impairment only, 3 (4.4%) had taste impairment only, and 30 (44.7%) had both smell and taste impairment. It was found that the smell scores of 55 patients with smell and taste impairment in the first evaluation were significantly higher at the second measurement; and their tasting period was significantly shortened compared to the first measurement (p˂0.001). Conclusion COVID-19 patients may present to medical centers with a broad variety signs and symptoms. This study shows that impairment in the senses of smell and taste is common in this disease and strongly associated with COVID-19 infection. However, smell and taste impairment is mostly temporary and improves during the recovery period.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and currently threatening the world. The infection appeared in the Wuhan, Hubei province of China in late 2019 and rapidly spread worldwide and became a pandemic. [1] There is an explosive increase in new patients and the shortage of the hospital beds are great challenges to the health-care system in the world. [1] COVID-19 infection can cause a severe respiratory failure and even death and rapidly spread to other person with mild or no symptoms in the majority of the patients. The most efficient method for preventing spread of the COVID-19 infection is the early identification and isolation of the patient. There are varieties of clinical presentations of COVID-19 patients. Conventionally, they present with high fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, myalgia, headache, sore throat, rhinorrhea, diarrhea, and nasal congestion. [2] Anosmia or ageusia are two important and peculiar presentations which are helpful to diagnose the COVID-19 patients in the earlier period. [3] Anosmia due to postviral infections is the leading cause of loss of smell which accounts for approximately 40% cases of the anosmia. [4] Viruses those give rise to common cold are also well known etiology for postinfectious anosmia. Previously documented coronaviruses are responsible for anosmia in 10%-15% cases. [5] The coronavirus strains in human have been describing the invasion of the central nervous system through neuroepithelium and reach to the olfactory bulb. [6] The exact pathophysiology of these chemosensitive

Otolaryngologia Polska, 2020

Objectives: To determine the incidence of smell and taste disorders in our health department and to analyse the factors that could be associated with these symptoms in patients with COVID-19. Methods: We conducted an observational descriptive study of all patients with COVID-19 in our health area diagnosed between 2020/03/10 and 2020/04/14. Factors related to smell and taste disorders were analysed. Results: A total of 126 patients, 63 women and 63 men, aged 16–80 years, were included. As many as 69 patients (62.7%) presented hyposmia, and 58 (46%) of them had anosmia. A total of 75 patients (59.5%) presented hypogeusia, and 57 (45.2%) of them had ageusia. The risk factors that were most commonly associated with these disorders were the female sex (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 2.43 for smell disorders and 2.44 for taste disorders), allergic rhinitis (aOR 3.34 for smell disorders) and a younger age. A protective factor was arterial hypertension (aOR 0.51 for smell disorders and 0.35 for ...

JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery

, a pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, to all over the world. 1 As of April 20, 2020, SARS-CoV-2 has been responsible for 2 414 595 infections and 165 174 deaths worldwide, with Italy accounting for 178 972 cases and 23 660 deaths. 2 The clinical spectrum of COVID-19 ranges from an asymptomatic or mild flu-like illness to a severe pneumonia and systemic disease requiring critical care. Main symptoms are fever, dry or productive cough, and dyspnea. 3 Human strains of coronavirus have been demonstrated to invade the central nervous system through the olfactory neu-roepithelium and propagate from within the olfactory bulb. 4 Furthermore, nasal epithelial cells display the highest expression of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, angiotensin converting enzyme 2, in the respiratory tree. 5 Smell impairment was first observed among other neurologic manifestations of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients, 6 and subsequently has been reported to be a common symptom reported in patients with mild disease. 7,8 Recently, we reported the prevalence of altered smell or taste to be 64% among a case series of 202 mildly symptomatic home-isolated patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. 8 The aim of this study was to evaluate the evolu-IMPORTANCE An altered sense of smell and taste has been reported to be associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To understand the evolution of these symptoms during the course of the disease is important to identify patients with persistent loss of smell or taste and estimate the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on the burden of olfactory and gustative dysfunctions. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the evolution of the loss of sense of smell and taste in a case series of mildly symptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional survey-based study included 202 mildly symptomatic adults (Ն18 years) consecutively assessed at Treviso Regional Hospital, Italy, between March 19 and March 22, 2020, who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal and throat swabs. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Prevalence of altered sense of smell and taste at follow-up and their variation from baseline. RESULTS Of 202 patients completing the survey at baseline, 187 (92.6%) also completed the follow-up survey (103 [55.1%] women; median age, 56 years). The evaluation of the evolution of altered sense of smell or taste in the 113 patients reporting sudden onset of these symptoms at baseline showed that 55 patients (48.7%; 95% CI, 39.2-58.3) reported complete resolution of smell or taste impairment, 46 (40.7%; 95% CI, 31.6-50.4) reported an improvement in the severity, and only 12 (10.6%; 95% CI, 5.6-17.8) reported the symptom was unchanged or worse. Persistent loss of smell or taste was not associated with persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE At 4 weeks from the onset, 89% of the SARS-CoV-2-positive mildly symptomatic patients who had had a sudden onset of altered sense of smell or taste experienced a complete resolution or improvement of these symptoms. Persistent loss of smell or taste was not associated with persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International

Introduction: Taste buds are the peripheral organs of gustation and are located mainly in the tongue epithelium and palate. Taste buds further sample the chemical makeup of foods and beverages for nutrient content, palatability, and potential toxicity. On the other hand, the smell acts as a major factor and mostly functions involuntarily thereby identify chemical makeup and protecting from potential toxic insult. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing viral pandemic that emerged from East Asia and quickly spread to the rest of the world. An important highlight is an atypical new presentation of the disease: patients with olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions. Objectives: To know whether the loss of taste and smell are a reliable symptomatic indicator in early diagnosis of COVID as well as how it impacts on the nutrition and early patient’s recovery. Results: A questionnaire originally developed by AAO – NHS (American academy of oto – laryngology neck and head surgery) ...

OTO Open

Objective Loss of smell and taste are considered potential discriminatory symptoms indicating triaging for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and early case identification. However, the estimated prevalence essential to guide public health policy varies in published literature. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate prevalence of smell and taste loss among COVID-19 patients. Data Sources We conducted systematic searches of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases for studies published on the prevalence of smell and taste loss in COVID-19 patients. Review Methods Two authors extracted data on study characteristics and the prevalence of smell and taste loss. Random-effects modeling was used to estimate pooled prevalence. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were conducted to explore potential heterogeneity sources. This study used PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. Results Twenty-seven of 32 studies reported a prevalence of loss of smell, taste, or both from a combined s...

Haya: The Saudi Journal of Life Sciences

Background: A significant proportion of people infected with COVID-19 report new onset of smell and taste loss. The duration of the chemosensory impairment and prognostic factors of recovery is still unclear. We aimed to investigate the prevalence rate and other signs and symptoms which are predictors in patients. Objective: To find out the association of Anosmia and Ageusia with COVID-19. To find out relationship of Gender with Anosmia and Ageusia in COVID-19 or other URTI. Methods: I was a cross-sectional study, participants were from CMH, Multan, Hospitals of different cities of the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The study was conducted from 1st July to 31st of August 2021. 185. All faculty members and medical Students of CMH Bahawalpur. Results: Out of 185 participants, 99 (53.5%) were male and 86 (46.5%) were female. The mean age was 23.93 ± 6.661years. Pearson correlation of covid-19 with loss of smell is 0.533 which shows that there is strong positive relationship between them...