JAMA: CHANGES IN THE SENSE OF SMELL OR TASTE OF COVID-19 MILD ILLNESS

2020 May 13 News /BioValleyBIOON / - Since December 2019, a type 2 by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus ( SARS-CoV-2) in 2019 due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has spread around the worldReported a spectrum of disease severity, the main symptoms include fever, fatigue, dry cough, muscle aches and breathing difficultiesPrevious coronavirus strain has been shown to invade the central nervous system via the olfactory neuroepithelial cells and multiply in the olfactory bulbIn addition, the nasal epithelium SARS-CoV-2 receptor, expressing high angiotensin converting enzyme in the respiratory system 2 (ACE2)Despite anecdotal reports about anosmia, but so far, only one study assessed the prevalence of smell and taste disorders COVID-19 hospitalized patients, reported an overall prevalence rate of 34%, but no other symptoms associated with the data on the incidence of timeTherefore, a study recently published in JAMA assessed the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with altered sense of smell or taste, intensity and timeThe study, entitled "AlterationsinSmellorTasteinMildlySymptomaticOutpatientsWithSARS-CoV-2Infection"Source: https: //cn.bing.commethodThis study was approved by the Italian province of Treviso and Belluno provinces of the ethics committee, and received a phone oral interview with informed consentParticipants included adults (≥18 years old) patients 2020 March 19 to March 22 Treviso Regional Hospital, as long as they react in nasopharyngeal and throat swabs to detect SARS-CoV-2RNA polymerase chain is positive and mild symptoms for home quarantine management, is included in this studyresearchers followed up 5 to 6 days to collect patient demographic data, patients filled out a questionnaire acute respiratory infections (ARTIQ: symptom score of 0, asymptomatic; 1 point, a little symptoms, 2 points, symptoms obviously in a telephone interview, they were asked whether the pumping swab the first two weeks experienced a sudden change in the sense of smell or taste, until the results of the tests nose 22 (SNOT-22) symptom severity .SNOT-22 rating was None (0), very slight (1), slight or mild (2), moderate (3), severe (4) or the most severe (5)result in a qualified 374 patients, 283 patients provides contact information; 202 people (71.4%) completed the telephone surveydemographic and clinical features are as follows: median age 56 years (range 20-89 years); 52.0% .130 female patients (64.4%, 95% CI, 57.3% -71.0%) reported a change in the taste or smell, SNOT-22 score is 4 points (the interquartile range, 3-5); 23.8% of subjects reporting 5 minutes in 130 patients reported smell or taste changes in 45 patients (34.6%) reported a stuffy nose other common symptoms are fatigue (68.3%), cough (60.4%) and fever ( 55.5%) in all Patients, time-dependent olfactory or taste changes of 24 patients (11.9%) patients earlier than the time other symptoms; 46 (22.8%) while symptoms; 54 (26.7%) only after other symptoms appeared smell, taste symptoms .6 patients (3.0%) reported only the sense of smell or taste change the sense of smell or taste changed in 105 women (72.4%, 95% CI: 62.8% -80.7%) 97 than in men (55.7 %, 95% CI: 45.2% -65.8% in) more usually discussed mild symptoms SARS-CoV-2 infected patients often report changes of smell or taste, and is usually the first obvious symptoms due to the limitations of the study, interpretation of the results must be careful: the data is self-reported, and based on cross-sectional survey, the sample is relatively small and subject to geographical restrictions, not including the more severe cases, the subsequent course of the disease concerned While the data can not be obtained SNOT-22 questionnaire has been objectively tested and olfactory function related, but patients may be difficult to quantify olfactory function; in future studies should include objective tests If these results are confirmed, it should be consideration of emerging COVID-19 during a pandemic or taste Patients olfactory changes are detected and a self-segregation (Biovalley Bioon.com) References:. GiacomoSpinatoetal AlterationsinSmellorTasteinMildlySymptomaticOutpatientsWithSARS-CoV-2Infection JAMA.PublishedonlineApril22,2020.doi : 10.1001 / jama.2020.6771