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[Possible unregistered SARS-CoV-2 infection in a young man with anosmia and ageusia]

Tobias Kvist Stripp1, Jens Søndergaard

  • 1tkstripp@health.sdu.dk.

Ugeskrift for Laeger
|April 15, 2020
PubMed

Insights

A mild SARS-CoV-2 infection case highlights the impact of limited testing during the pandemic. Unregistered infections, including loss of smell and taste, affected a young man despite not meeting testing criteria.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, testing strategies in Denmark prioritized critically ill patients.
  • This approach led to a rise in unregistered infections and challenges in disease quantification.
  • Limited testing obscured the true societal impact of the virus.

Observation:

  • A case study involving a healthy young man with symptoms suggestive of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Despite a highly suspicious medical record, the patient did not meet testing guidelines.
  • The patient experienced typical SARS-CoV-2 symptoms along with total anosmia and ageusia.

Findings:

  • The case suggests that mild SARS-CoV-2 infections may go undiagnosed under restrictive testing policies.
  • Anosmia (loss of smell) and ageusia (loss of taste) were prominent symptoms in this case.
  • Unregistered infections contribute to the underestimation of viral spread and impact.

Implications:

  • The findings underscore the need for broader testing strategies to accurately track infectious diseases.
  • Understanding the full spectrum of symptoms, including sensory loss, is crucial for diagnosis.
  • Accurate infection data is vital for effective public health interventions and understanding societal impact.

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