Persistent Smell Loss Following Undetectable SARS-CoV-2.

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Neurology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Smell and taste loss are prevalent symptoms of COVID-19.
• Chemosensory dysfunction can be the sole indicator of infection and may persist after other symptoms resolve.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and significance of persistent smell loss in COVID-19 patients after viral clearance.
• To explore the relationship between self-reported olfactory dysfunction and viral shedding.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 316 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases.
• Included 46 patients with confirmed viral clearance (2 consecutive negative RT-PCR tests).
• Assessed olfactory dysfunction through patient self-reporting.

Main Results:

• 50% of patients (23 of 46) reported olfactory dysfunction.
• 78% of those with smell loss (18 of 23) experienced persistent symptoms despite negative RT-PCR results.
• Self-reported smell loss persisted even with undetectable nasal viral RNA.

Conclusions:

• Persistent self-reported smell loss is common in COVID-19 patients post-clinical resolution.
• Olfactory dysfunction can linger despite confirmed viral clearance.
• Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanisms and implications of persistent smell loss after COVID-19.