Changes in Smell and Taste As a potential markers of COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Background: Anosmia and dysgeusia have been reported as potential symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019. This study aimed to confirm whether anosmia and dysgeusia are specific symptoms among those who tested positive for covid-19. Method: We conducted a prospective study in S.T.H. Haldwani (Uttarakhand) between August 2020 to September 2020. We included suspected covid-19 patients admitted in S.T.H. Haldwani who tested for covid-19 in the institution. Clinical symptoms associated with anosmia and dysgeusia were obtained by direct/telephone interview with a standardized questionnaire. Result:Among all participants ( 1596) around 62% patients complaints of loss of smell before any covid-19 testing, among which 80.6% came covid-19 positive and 19.4% came negative And 56% patients complained for loss of taste before or during other major symptoms appearance in which 90% came out to be positive for covid-19 and 10% came as covid-19 negative. In our study we also find out that Loss of taste is more specific and consistent symptom for covid-19 diagnosis than loss of smell. Conclusion: Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction are common in patients with COVID-19 and may represent early symptoms in the clinical course of infection. Increased awareness of this fact may encourage earlier diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, as well as heighten vigilance for viral spread. The significantly higher prevalence detected by validated instruments suggests that the true prevalence of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients may remain underestimated.

Key words: COVID-19, coronavirus, anosmia, olfactory, ageusia.