Persistent ENT Manifestations in Individuals who Recovered from COVID-19: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Long COVID involves persistent symptoms and inflammatory mechanisms after acute infection.
• Otorhinolaryngological (ENT) deficits are emerging in COVID-19 survivors.
• Reported ENT symptoms include tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo, and olfactory dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize reported ENT symptoms in patients recovering from COVID-19.
• To integrate findings with clinical experience for a comprehensive overview.
• To highlight the scope of otorhinolaryngological complications in long COVID.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across major scientific databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Google Scholar).
• Selection and analysis of 44 relevant studies.
• Data synthesis to identify and categorize ENT symptoms.

Main Results:

• A wide range of otorhinolaryngological symptoms are associated with long COVID.
• Key symptoms include tinnitus, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), vertigo, nasal congestion, hyposmia/anosmia, and dysgeusia.
• Other reported issues encompass sore throat, cough, dyspnea, dysphagia, and voice alterations.

Conclusions:

• Otorhinolaryngological complications are a significant concern in long COVID patients.
• Symptoms like tinnitus, SNHL, vertigo, and olfactory dysfunction are widely documented.
• These findings underscore the need for specialized ENT evaluation in long COVID care.