Symptomatology of COVID-19 from the otorhinolaryngology perspective: a survey of 223 SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive patients

• Published in: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology 2021-02, Vol.278 (2), p.525-535
• Main Authors: Salepci, Egehan, Turk, Bilge, Ozcan, Safiye Nur, Bektas, Merve Ekici, Aybal, Alperen, Dokmetas, Ilyas, Turgut, Suat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cough; COVID-19 - complications; Female; Head and Neck Surgery; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Neurosurgery; Olfaction Disorders - etiology; Otolaryngology; Otorhinolaryngology; RNA, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0937-4477; 1434-4726
• DOI: 10.1007/s00405-020-06284-1

Purpose To determine prevalence, severity, duration, and time from onset to diagnosis of general and Otorhinolaryngologic symptoms related to COVID-19 in whole disease spectrum: from mild to critical patients. Methods All adult patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA found in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs between March 10 and April 21, 2020 were surveyed by the authors for new onset symptoms during disease course. Demographic features, general symptoms, and Otorhinolaryngological symptoms were evaluated and compared by disease severity. Results Of 223 included patients, 18.4% had mild, 61.4%; moderate, 14.3%; severe, and 5.8%; critical disease. Median age was 51 (range 20–93), 113 (50.7%) were male and 110 (49.3%) were female. The most common general symptoms were fatigue, cough, and fever with respective frequencies of 71.3%, 54.3%, and 50.7%. The most common Otorhinolaryngologic symptoms were taste loss, smell loss, and sore throat with respective frequencies of 34.5%, 31.8%, and 26%. Fatigue, fever, and dyspnea were more common in severe-critical patients compared to mild–moderate patients ( p  = 0.029, p  = 0.016, and p