tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Clin Microbiol Infect
. 2020 Jun 2;S1198-743X(20)30303-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.05.026. Online ahead of print.
New Onset Anosmia and Ageusia in Adult Patients Diagnosed With SARS-CoV-2
A Patel[SUP] 1 [/SUP], E Charani[SUP] 2 [/SUP], D Ariyanayagam[SUP] 3 [/SUP], A Abdulaal[SUP] 4 [/SUP], S J Denny[SUP] 5 [/SUP], N Mughal[SUP] 6 [/SUP], L S P Moore[SUP] 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Objective: We investigated the prevalence of anosmia and ageusia in adult patients with a laboratory confirmed diagnosis of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Methods: A retrospective observational analysis of patients with SARS-CoV-2 admitted to hospital or managed in the community and their household contacts across a London population during March 1 - April 1, 2020. Symptomatology and duration were extracted from routinely collected clinical data and follow-up telephone consultations. Descriptive statistics were used.
Results: Of 386 patients, 141 (92 community patients, 49 discharged inpatients) were included for analysis. 77/141 (55%) reported anosmia and ageusia; nine reported only ageusia and three only anosmia. The median onset of anosmia in relation to onset of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms (as defined by the Public Health England case definition) was 4 days (Interquartile range 5). Median duration of anosmia was 8 days (IQR 16). Median duration of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms in community patients was 10 days (IQR 8) versus 18 days (IQR 13.5) in admitted patients. As of April 1, 45 patients had ongoing SARS-CoV-2 symptoms and/or anosmia. 107/141 (76%) patients had household contacts. Of 185 non-tested household contacts, 79 (43%) had SARS-CoV-2 symptoms with 46/79 (58%) reporting anosmia. Six household contacts had anosmia only.
Conclusions: Over half of positive patients reported anosmia and ageusia suggesting these should be added to the case definition and guide self-isolation protocols. This adaptation may be integral to case finding in the absence of population-level testing. Until we have successful population-level vaccination coverage, these steps remain critical in the current and future waves of this pandemic.
Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Ear; nose and throat [MeSH].
. 2020 Jun 2;S1198-743X(20)30303-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.05.026. Online ahead of print.
New Onset Anosmia and Ageusia in Adult Patients Diagnosed With SARS-CoV-2
A Patel[SUP] 1 [/SUP], E Charani[SUP] 2 [/SUP], D Ariyanayagam[SUP] 3 [/SUP], A Abdulaal[SUP] 4 [/SUP], S J Denny[SUP] 5 [/SUP], N Mughal[SUP] 6 [/SUP], L S P Moore[SUP] 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32502645
- PMCID: PMC7265826
- DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.05.026
Abstract
Objective: We investigated the prevalence of anosmia and ageusia in adult patients with a laboratory confirmed diagnosis of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Methods: A retrospective observational analysis of patients with SARS-CoV-2 admitted to hospital or managed in the community and their household contacts across a London population during March 1 - April 1, 2020. Symptomatology and duration were extracted from routinely collected clinical data and follow-up telephone consultations. Descriptive statistics were used.
Results: Of 386 patients, 141 (92 community patients, 49 discharged inpatients) were included for analysis. 77/141 (55%) reported anosmia and ageusia; nine reported only ageusia and three only anosmia. The median onset of anosmia in relation to onset of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms (as defined by the Public Health England case definition) was 4 days (Interquartile range 5). Median duration of anosmia was 8 days (IQR 16). Median duration of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms in community patients was 10 days (IQR 8) versus 18 days (IQR 13.5) in admitted patients. As of April 1, 45 patients had ongoing SARS-CoV-2 symptoms and/or anosmia. 107/141 (76%) patients had household contacts. Of 185 non-tested household contacts, 79 (43%) had SARS-CoV-2 symptoms with 46/79 (58%) reporting anosmia. Six household contacts had anosmia only.
Conclusions: Over half of positive patients reported anosmia and ageusia suggesting these should be added to the case definition and guide self-isolation protocols. This adaptation may be integral to case finding in the absence of population-level testing. Until we have successful population-level vaccination coverage, these steps remain critical in the current and future waves of this pandemic.
Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Ear; nose and throat [MeSH].