Journal of Communication Disorders, Deaf Studies & Hearing Aids
Open Access

Abstract

ENT Manifestations in COVID-19 Positive Patients

Vaibhav Kuchhal, Shahzad Ahmad, Priyanka Chaurasia* and Pradeep Rawat

Aim: To study the status of ear, nose and throat in the patients diagnosed with the COVID-19.

Materials and methods: This is a perspective study in patients admitted in the isolation wards of Dr. Sushila Tiwari Hospital Haldwani between March 2020 and July 2020. There were 465 symptomatic patients out of total 727 patients diagnosed with COVID19.

Results: Since the COVID-19 pandemic has begun, many individuals have noted many ENT manifestations along with the other general symptoms like fever (395 pt)>cough (326 pt) >weakness/fatigue (190 pt)>difficulty in breathing (89 pt)>muscle ache (58 pt)>headache (56 pt) and diarrhea (24 pt). Among ENT manifestations throat symptoms were found most common including loss of taste in 74 pt. It was noticed that most commonly sweet and salt goes first then sour taste vanish and bitter and chilly taste goes in the end, most of them were reversible after 2-3 weeks. Among nasal symptoms nasal congestion was found most common (72 pt) followed by loss of smell (88 pt), nasal blockage (66 pt) and runny nose (47 pt). Loss of smell was also reversible in most of the cases after 2-3 weeks. Ear symptoms were not so commonly found. Although itching in bilateral ear, sensation of ear fullness, ear ache and conductive hearing loss were complained by some patients.

Conclusion: This study represents the initial findings of all individuals with ENT manifestations along with the chemosensory loss in the symptomatic confirmed COVID-19 patients. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, changes in smell or taste are not being considered indicative of possible COVID-19 infection especially in the absence of other high-suspicion symptoms.

Published Date: 2021-12-27; Received Date: 2021-12-06