ABSTRACT
Introduction: The effect of SARS-CoV-2 on hearing has not been thoroughly examined. Factors limiting hearing tests in COVID-19 patients are hygiene requirements and the need to use specialized equipment. The objective of the study was to assess changes in hearing thresholds between diagnosis of COVID-19 and convalescence using a mobile app. Material and methods: Patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms, who were isolating at home were enrolled in the study between 1 September 2020 and 31 January 2021. Subjects answered an online medical survey and self-assessed hearing thresholds using the Hearing Test™ mobile app (e-audiologia.pl). These procedures were done twice, once at the time of diagnosis and again 2 weeks after convalescence. Results: A total of 67 subjects were found eligible for the study. At most frequencies the patients' hearing did not differ between the first and second examinations;however, for 4 kHz, a statistically significant improvement in the hearing threshold was found (p = 0.05). Survey review revealed noticeable improvement (p = 0.001) over time in smell, taste, and nasal congestion. Conclusions: It seems that SARS-CoV-2 infection caused a transient and selective (at 4 kHz) hearing impairment in patients who had had mild to moderate infection. The results suggest that as olfactory function returns after COVID-19, an improvement in hearing can be expected. Solutions based on mobile technology are useful for monitoring the hearing of patients in a pandemic.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This review focuses on the frequency of symptoms in COVID-19 in comparison to SARS, influenza and common cold. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the knowledge about the clinical features, symptoms and differences between patients with COVID-19, SARS, influenza, and common cold. The research can help ear, nose and throat specialists and other health practitioners manage patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The biomedical databases used in the study included PubMed and MEDLINE. Statistical analysis using the Z-score test assessed which symptoms were more characteristic of COVID-19 than other viral diseases. RESULTS: Among individuals with COVID-19, the most frequently reported symptoms were cough (70%), fever (45%), muscular pain (29%), and headache (21%), whereas sore throat (12%), and rhinorrhea (4%) were observed at lower rates. Fever was identified as most frequent in COVID-19 (74%), appearing at a higher rate in those cases than in influenza (68%) or the common cold (40%) (p < 0.05). In comparison to other viral diseases, sore throat was rarely reported in COVID-19 and SARS (12% and 18%, respectively) (p < 0.05). In influenza and common cold, a cough was identified in 93% and 80% of cases (p < 0.05). Headache, rhinorrhea, muscular pain, and sore throat were more common in influenza (91%, 91%, 94%, and 84%, respectively) and common cold (89%, 81%, 94%, and 84%, respectively) than in COVID-19 (21%, 4%, 29%, and 12%, respectively) and SARS (45%, 12%, 55%, and 18%, respectively) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the analysis show that a greater number of general symptoms should lead to a diagnosis of influenza or common cold rather than COVID-19.