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[Temporary hyposmia in COVID-19 patients]
S Bocksberger1, W Wagner2,3, T Hummel4
1Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, München Klinik Schwabing, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Kölner Platz 1, 80804, München, Deutschland.
HNO
|May 27, 2020
Summary
COVID-19 frequently causes olfactory dysfunction (loss of smell), often without nasal symptoms. This smell loss typically resolves within 1-3 weeks, suggesting a neurogenic cause for this common COVID-19 symptom.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
Background:
- Reports high incidence of olfactory dysfunction in early German COVID-19 patients.
- Focuses on the first cohort from the Webasto cluster.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients.
- To determine if olfactory loss is associated with nasal symptoms and its recovery timeline.
Main Methods:
- Assessed loss of smell/taste in 63 COVID-19 patients (41% reported symptoms).
- Performed smell tests on 14 patients and taste tests on 10.
- Conducted measurements in a clinical setting during the early pandemic.
Main Results:
- 10/14 patients exhibited olfactory disorders, irrespective of nasal decongestion.
- Hyposmia was the sole or primary symptom in 2 patients.
- All patients experienced smell/taste recovery within 8-23 days.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 can cause significant hyposmia, affecting approximately 30% of patients in this cohort.
- Olfactory disturbance, often without nasal obstruction, suggests a potential neurogenic origin.
- Temporary olfactory disorder typically resolves within 1-3 weeks, aiding patient counseling.
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