Anosmia and ageusia as initial or unique symptoms after COVID-19 (Review article)

SARS-CoV-2 (CoV-2) is a coronavirus which is causing the actual COVID-19 pandemic The disease caused by 2019 new corona-virus (2019-nCoV) was named coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization in February 2020 Primary non-specific reported symptoms of 2019-nCoV infection at the prodromal phase are malaise, fever, and dry cough The most com-monly reported signs and symptoms are fever (98%), cough (76%), dyspnoea (55%), and myalgia or fatigue (44%) Nonetheless, recent reports suggest an association between COVID-19 and altered olfactory and taste functions, although smell seems to be more affected than taste These associations of smell and taste dysfunctions and CoV-2 are consistent with case reports describing a patient with SARS with long term anosmia after recovery from respiratory distress, with the observation that olfactory function is com-monly altered after infection with endemic coronaviruses, and with data demonstrating that intentional experimental infection of humans with CoV-299 raises the thresholds at which odours can be detected Post-viral anosmia and is one of the leading causes of loss of sense of smell in adults, accounting for up to 40% cases of anosmia Viruses that give rise to the common cold are well known to cause post-infectious loss, and over 200 different viruses are known to cause upper respiratory tract infections I con-cluded that since the existence of such a relationship is likely, it is highly recommended that those patients who experience complications such as smell and/or taste loss, even as unique symptoms, should be considered as potential SARS-CoV-2 virus carriers © 2020, Media Sphera All rights reserved