Ear, nose, and throat manifestations of COVID-19 and its vaccines

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Infectious Diseases
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a pandemic declared by the WHO, presents with diverse, non-classical symptoms.
• The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily transmits via the upper respiratory tract, leading to various ear, nose, and throat (ENT) manifestations.
• Olfactory dysfunction is a hallmark symptom of COVID-19, appearing alone or with other signs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize the range of early and persistent ENT symptoms observed in individuals with COVID-19.
• To document otolaryngological side effects associated with COVID-19 vaccines.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of the impact of COVID-19 and its vaccines on the ear, nose, and throat.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on COVID-19 and ENT symptoms.
• Analysis of reported otolaryngological manifestations in COVID-19 patients.
• Examination of data on adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination, focusing on ENT side effects.

Main Results:

• Common COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, dyspnea, myalgia, and headache.
• Frequent ENT symptoms in COVID-19 are olfactory dysfunction (anosmia, hyposmia), while less common symptoms include sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), dysphonia, and sore throat.
• Otolaryngological side effects from COVID-19 vaccines are less frequent than local and systemic adverse effects, but can include anosmia, hyposmia, Bell's palsy, and SSNHL.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 significantly impacts the ear, nose, and throat, with symptoms ranging from acute olfactory loss to persistent issues like parosmia and hearing impairment.
• While vaccine-related otolaryngological side effects are rare compared to systemic reactions, they warrant attention.
• Understanding the spectrum of ENT symptoms is crucial for managing COVID-19 patients and monitoring vaccine safety.