Identification of viruses in patients with postviral olfactory dysfunction

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Otolaryngology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Postviral olfactory dysfunction (PVOD) significantly impacts quality of life.
• The specific viral agents responsible for PVOD remain largely unidentified.
• Understanding causative viruses is crucial for developing targeted treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the viruses present in nasal discharge of patients diagnosed with PVOD.
• To investigate the correlation between viral detection and olfactory dysfunction.
• To explore the time course of olfactory symptoms and nasal obstruction in PVOD patients.

Main Methods:

• Collected nasal discharge samples from 24 PVOD patients.
• Utilized electrophoresis and nucleotide sequencing to detect 10 different viruses.
• Employed questionnaires, acoustic rhinometry, and olfactory tests to assess symptom progression.

Main Results:

• Rhinoviruses were identified in 10 patients, with specific serotypes (HRV-40, -75, -78, -80) confirmed in four.
• Coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, and Epstein-Barr virus were detected in one, one, and three patients, respectively.
• Olfactory dysfunction persisted in some patients for up to 6 months, despite improvements in nasal obstruction.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first to detect rhinovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, and Epstein-Barr virus in PVOD patients.
• Findings suggest rhinoviruses can cause olfactory dysfunction independently of nasal obstruction.
• Rhinoviruses may lead to varied severities and timelines of olfactory impairment.