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Comparison of COVID-19 and common cold chemosensory dysfunction
C Huart1, C Philpott2, I Konstantinidis3
1Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
Rhinology
|August 20, 2020
Summary
COVID-19 patients experienced distinct olfactory dysfunction compared to acute cold (AC) patients, suggesting potential central nervous system involvement. Further research is needed to understand persistent smell loss mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Anosmia is a common symptom of COVID-19 and acute colds (AC).
- COVID-19 related anosmia often occurs without other nasal symptoms, unlike AC.
- Objective comparison of chemosensory function in COVID-19 vs. AC patients is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively compare olfactory and gustatory functions in COVID-19 patients, AC patients, and healthy controls.
- To investigate potential differences in the mechanisms of smell dysfunction between COVID-19 and AC.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the extended "Sniffin' Sticks" test for smell and "taste strips" for taste assessment.
- Included 10 PCR-diagnosed COVID-19 patients (2 weeks post-infection), 10 AC patients, and 10 healthy controls matched for age and sex.
- Employed Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves to differentiate between COVID-19 and AC olfactory/gustatory scores.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 patients exhibited different olfactory dysfunction mechanisms compared to AC patients.
- Results suggest possible central nervous system involvement in COVID-19 related olfactory dysfunction.
- Taste function comparison data was also collected.
Conclusions:
- The mechanisms underlying smell loss in COVID-19 differ from those in acute colds.
- COVID-19 may involve specific central nervous system pathways affecting smell.
- Future studies should explore persistent anosmia and neuroanatomical changes.
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