Research
[Open Forum Infectious Diseases] Olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients: observational cohort study and systematic review
Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 5 June 2020
Tom Wai-Hin Chung, Siddharth Sridhar, Anna Jinxia Zhang, Kwok-Hung Chan, Hang-Long Li, Fergus Kai-Chuen Wong, Ming-Yen Ng, Raymond King-Yin Tsang, Andrew Chak-Yiu Lee, Zhimeng Fan, Ronnie Siu-Lun Ho, Shiobhon Yiu Luk, Wai-Kuen Kan, Sonia Hiu-Yin Lam, Alan Ka-Lun Wu, Sau-Man Leung, Wai-Ming Chan, Pauline Yeung Ng, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng, Kwok-Cheung Lung, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Kwok-Yung Yuen
Highlights:
- Among COVID-19 patients, 12 of 18 (67%) reported olfactory symptoms and OD was confirmed in 6 patients by BTT and SIT. Olfactory dysfunction was the only symptom in 2 patients.
- Sinusitis and olfactory cleft obstruction were absent in most patients.
- Systematic review showed that the prevalence of olfactory disturbances in COVID-19 ranged from 5% to 98%
- Olfactory dysfunction is common in COVID-19 and may be the only symptom in some cases.
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