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Introduction: Ever since coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first identified in December 2019, it has infected millions of people and resulted in more than 6.86 million deaths worldwide. Numerous novel manifestations have emerged ensuing COVID-19 and even though a full 2-year period has passed, the ongoing pandemic remains a conundrum, especially to the healthcare system. Dysphonia, or a disorder of the voice, is among the novel manifestations that have emerged. Aim of the study: To outline the outcome of new-onset dysphonia presentation in COVID-19 patients in a single tertiary centre. Case study: We aim to discuss the clinical presentation and outcome of the 3 cases that we managed in our centre to help understand the course and outcome of new- onset dysphonia among COVID-19 patients. Result and discussion: We found that despite its viral origin, dysphonia in COVID-19 patients persisted for longer compared to other viral-induced dysphonia. New-onset dysphonia is a possible silent manifestation of COVID-19.
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Aim: The aim of the study was to outline the longitudinal outcomes of olfactory dysfunction amongst patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a single tertiary centre in Malaysia. Material(s) and Method(s): Adults patients who tested positive for COVID-19 via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and were admitted to Hospital Sungai Buloh, Malaysia, were recruited in this study. The patients completed a questionnaire via telephone interview comprising the following details: age, sex, ethnicity, comorbidities, general and otorhinolaryngological symptoms, and onset and duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The patients with persistent olfactory and gustatory dysfunction at the time of the initial interview were followed up every 3 to 5 days until resolution. Result(s): A total 185 patients were included in this study out of 378 patients contacted. Ninety patients reported olfactory dysfunction symptoms, with 59 of them complaining of anosmia. The mean age of the participants was 39.52 years (age range: 18-66 years). More than half of the patients with olfactory dysfunction had no comorbidities (55.56%). Of the 90 patients with olfactory dysfunction, 66 patients (73.3%), including 40 males and 26 females, regained their olfactory function completely within 2 weeks. The remaining 24 patients were contacted after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Ten patients (11.1%) were found to have recovered their sense of smell after one month, while 5 patients (5.56%) recovered within 2 months, and 1 patient (1.11%) recovered in 3 months. Conclusion(s): Complete recovery was noted in 73% of the patients within a period of 2 weeks, whereas persistence of symptoms was noted in 6 patients (6.67%) after 3 months.Copyright © Pediatr Med Rodz 2022.
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Objective: The global healthcare system was severely impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Healthcare professionals, especially doctors, faced a tremendous amount of responsibility irrespective of the specialty and levels of ex-perience. The majority of nations saw physicians from all medical specialties relocate to COVID-19 wards. Working outside of one's comfort zone would have a significant psychosocial impact, especially in a crisis like the pandemic. To describe the experience of noninfectious disease physicians redeployed to COVID-19 duties. Material(s) and Method(s): All noninfectious disease physicians who were redeployed to COVID-19 duties received a Google form with 25 questions. Using the Pearson chi-squared test and the Fisher exact test, the relationship between survey responses and working experience and department was investigated. Statistical threshold was set at p<0.05. Result(s): Out of 180 respondents, 114 completed the survey in total. Most of the participants were female (64.9%) aged between 31-40 years old (86.8%) with 64.9% having 5-10 years of working experience. During the redeployment, 57% of respondents reported experiencing psychological effects, and 73.7% felt underprepared. However, 71.1% said their assign-ment to COVID-19 wards was beneficial, and 38.4% were willing to receive redeployment. Conclusion(s): The results of the survey indicate that COVID-19 ward redeployment was successful because participants believed their participation was important and the lead team in the COVID-19 wards offered enough direction and assistance. Doctors are prepared to safely treat COVID-19 patients, thanks to the intensive crash course and their fundamental medical knowledge. Copyright © 2023 by Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine.
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Objective: This study aimed to outline the prevalence and the outcome of olfactory dysfunction in a multiracial Asian setting. Methods: The olfactory function of adult patients (above 18 years of age) who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and were admitted to a tertiary center was assessed through a telephone-based interview. Patients with olfactory dysfunction at the time of the initial interview were followed up after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Results: A total of 356 patients completed the study, of which 94 coronavirus disease 2019-positive patients with new-onset olfactory dysfunction were included in this study. The prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in this study is 26.4%. Female predominance and younger age group were demonstrated. Malay patients were found to be the predominant race affected by coronavirus disease 2019 by 83%. The improvement of olfactory dysfunction was significant after 2 weeks as 84% improved. After 3 months of follow-up, 6.4% had persistent symptoms, of which 33.33% had parosmia and 66.67% had anosmia. None of the patients had olfactory dysfunction prior to coronavirus disease 2019or had a history of recurrent nasal symptoms. None of the patients received the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination. Conclusion: The prevalence of olfactory dysfunction among coronavirus disease 2019patients is 26.4%, whereby the Malay population were the predominant ethnic group involved. 84% of patients recovered after 2 weeks. After 3 months of follow-up, 6.4% of patients still have persistent olfactory dysfunction.
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OBJECTIVE: To outline the impact on quality of life in coronavirus disease 2019 patients with olfactory dysfunction. METHODS: Five databases were searched for articles referring to the impact on quality of life in coronavirus disease 2019 patients with olfactory dysfunction. The search was conducted for the period from November 2019 to April 2021. The search was conducted over one month (May 2021). RESULTS: Four studies that met the objective were included. Altogether, there were 1045 patients. Various questionnaires were used to assess quality of life. Overall, the quality of life deficit affected 67.7 per cent of patients. Quality of life domains investigated include overall quality of life (four studies), food and taste dysfunction (two studies), mental health (two studies), cognitive function (one study), functional outcome (one study) and safety domains (one study). CONCLUSION: Quality of life deficit was reported to be 67.7 per cent among coronavirus disease 2019 patients with olfactory dysfunction. The high prevalence of persistent olfactory dysfunction prompts more serious research, as the long-standing consequences of olfactory dysfunction are detrimental.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/complications , Cost of Illness , Olfaction Disorders/psychology , Quality of Life , SARS-CoV-2 , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Olfaction Disorders/epidemiology , Olfaction Disorders/virologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Despite the rapidly emerging reports of olfactory dysfunction amongst adult patients with coronavirus disease 2019, cases involving children and adolescents are scarcely reported. The literature was reviewed to elucidate olfactory dysfunction amongst children and adolescents with coronavirus disease 2019. METHODS: A search of the literature published from 1 December 2019 to 30 April 2021 was conducted using four databases, based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The search was performed over one month (May 2021). RESULTS: Only 9 articles were identified, with a total of 316 laboratory confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 positive children and adolescents, of whom 156 reported olfactory dysfunction. Four studies reported olfactory dysfunction based on subjective tests; four studies carried out objective assessment. Most studies reported on olfaction recovery. CONCLUSION: The literature review revealed an olfactory dysfunction rate of 49 per cent amongst children and adolescents with coronavirus disease 2019. Persistence of olfactory dysfunction was reported in 7.1 per cent of the patients. Further studies involving objective measures need to be carried out in children and adolescents with coronavirus disease 2019.