Title

Sudden olfactory loss as an early marker of COVID-19: a nationwide Italian survey

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Neurology

Publication Date

2020-08-04

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Diagnosis | Infectious Disease | Nervous System Diseases | Neurology | Otolaryngology | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms | Sense Organs | Virus Diseases

Abstract

PURPOSE: The presence of many asymptomatic COVID-19 cases may increase the risks of disease dissemination, mainly for physicians. There are numerous reports on the frequent findings of sudden anosmia or hyposmia, before or at the same time of the typical COVID-19 symptoms onset. The aim of this study was to verify the association of olfactory impairment and COVID-19, providing a basis for subsequent research in the field of COVID-19 clinical heterogeneity.

METHODS: We developed a 15-item online questionnaire on "Sudden Olfactory Loss (SOL) and COVID-19" that was administered during March 2020 to Italian general practitioners registered to a social media group.

RESULTS: One hundred and eighty responses were received. SOL was identified as a significant sign of infection in COVID-19 patients, mainly aged between 30 and 40 years, even in the absence of other symptoms. SOL was present as an initial symptom in 46.7% of subjects, and in 16.7%, it was the only symptom. Among the COVID-19 confirmed cases, SOL occurred as the only symptom in 19.2% of patients.

CONCLUSION: SOL could represent a possible early symptom in otherwise asymptomatic COVID-19 subjects. Subjects affected by SOL should be considered as potential COVID-19 cases.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Keywords

Anosmia, COVID-19, Hyposmia, Nasal, Screening, Smell, Sudden olfactory loss, Taste

DOI of Published Version

10.1007/s00405-020-06252-9

Source

Spadera L, Viola P, Pisani D, Scarpa A, Malanga D, Sorrentino G, Madini E, Laria C, Aragona T, Leopardi G, Maggiore G, Ciriolo M, Boccuto L, Pizzolato R, Abenavoli L, Cassandro C, Ralli M, Cassandro E, Chiarella G. Sudden olfactory loss as an early marker of COVID-19: a nationwide Italian survey. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2020 Aug 4:1–9. doi: 10.1007/s00405-020-06252-9. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32749606; PMCID: PMC7399588. Link to article on publisher's site

Journal/Book/Conference Title

European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Comments

Full author list omitted for brevity. For the full list of authors, see article.

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

PubMed ID

32749606

Link to Full Text

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