Neurosensory dysfunction: A diagnostic marker of early COVID-19

• Published in: International journal of infectious diseases 2020-09, Vol.98, p.347-352
• Main Authors: Liang, Yujie, Xu, Jiabin, Chu, Mei, Mai, Jianbo, Lai, Niangmei, Tang, Wen, Yang, Tuanjie, Zhang, Sien, Guan, Chenyu, Zhong, Fan, Yang, Liuping, Liao, Guiqing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Betacoronavirus - physiology; Child; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis; Coronavirus Infections - physiopathology; Coronavirus Infections - virology; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; Diagnosis; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Hypogeusia; Hyposmia; Male; Middle Aged; Neurosensory dysfunction; Olfaction Disorders - diagnosis; Olfaction Disorders - physiopathology; Olfaction Disorders - virology; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - diagnosis; Pneumonia, Viral - physiopathology; Pneumonia, Viral - virology; SARS-CoV-2; Taste; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1201-9712; 1878-3511; 1878-3511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.06.086

•Neurosensory dysfunction.•Chronological analysis.•Viral load. To describe neurosensory dysfunctions, including hyposmia, hypogeusia, and tinnitus, in patients with COVID-19. Clinical characteristics and oropharyngeal swabs were obtained from 86 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital. The chronological analysis method was used to detail neurosensory dysfunction. The cycle threshold (Ct) values were used to approximately indicate viral load. Forty-four (51.2%) patients had neurosensory dysfunction: hyposmia (34, 39.5%), hypogeusia (33, 38.4%), and tinnitus (three, 3.5%). Neurosensory dysfunction was significantly more common in patients under 40 years old (p = 0.001) and women (p = 0.006). Hyposmia and hypogeusia coexisted in 23 (26.7%) patients. The interval between onset of hyposmia and hypogeusia was 0.7 ± 1.46 days. The interval from onset of hyposmia and hypogeusia to typical COVID-19 symptoms was 0.22 ± 4.57 and 0.75 ± 6.77 days; the interval from onset of hyposmia and hypogeusia to admission was 6.06 ± 6.68 and 5.76 ± 7.68 days; and the duration of hyposmia and hypogeusia was 9.09 ± 5.74 and 7.12 ± 4.66 days, respectively. The viral load was high following symptoms onset, peaked within the first week, and gradually declined. Neurosensory dysfunction tends to occur in the early stage of COVID-19, and it could be used as a marker for the early diagnosis of COVID-19.