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This paper is aimed at comprehensively reviewing olfactory and gustatory disorders caused by SARS-CoV-2 in children and adults. An electronic and manual search was done on three data bases: MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria included publications written in English, involving humans in the age range of 0 to 99 years that were captured by a controlled vocabulary of thesaurus terms. Olfactory and gustatory disorders rates in COVID-19 ranged from 22% to 71.9% in adults and 16.6% to 25.8% in children. Olfactory and gustatory disorders might appear as the first symptom, and in adults might even be the only symptom (4.8% to 10%). Anosmia is the most common olfactory disorder and hypogeusia is the most common gustatory disorder. In 33% to 89% of cases, olfactory and gustatory disorders resolve spontaneously within a few weeks, coinciding with the resolution of other COVID-19 symptoms, both in adults and children. However, in some patients, olfactory and gustatory disorders persist beyond the resolution of other symptoms. Notably, children generally experience a swifter and more favorable recovery compared to adults. The precise pathogenesis underlying olfactory and gustatory disorders in the context of COVID-19 remains unclear and is likely multifactorial. Presently, no established treatment protocol exists for olfactory and gustatory disorders and current treatments reviewed lack robust evidence and are not readily available for clinical use. Olfactory training represents the only therapy currently recommended by international authorities. Pediatric practitioners and general dental practitioners should be aware of olfactory and gustatory disorders in both pediatric and adult populations, including their biologic mechanisms, treatment options, and recovery rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To estimate long-term prognosis of chemosensory dysfunctions among patients recovering from COVID-19 disease. Methods: Between April 2020 and July 2022, we conducted a prospective, observational study enrolling 48 patients who experienced smell and/or taste dysfunction during the acute-phase of COVID-19. Patients were evaluated for chemosensory function up to 24 months after disease onset. Results: During the acute-phase of COVID-19, 80% of patients reported anosmia, 15% hyposmia, 63% ageusia, and 33% hypogeusia. At two years' follow-up, 53% still experienced smell impairment, and 42% suffered from taste impairment. Moreover, 63% of patients who reported parosmia remained with olfactory disturbance. Interestingly, we found a negative correlation between visual analogue scale scores for smell and taste impairments during the acute-phase of COVID-19 and the likelihood of long-term recovery. Conclusion: Our study sheds light on the natural history and long-term follow-up of chemosensory dysfunction in patients recovering from COVID-19 disease. Most patients who initially suffered from smell and/or taste disturbance did not reach full recovery after 2 years follow-up. The severity of impairment may serve as a prognostic indicator for full recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) are used for several conditions, including allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. Consequently, their safety profile needs continuous monitoring. This study aimed to analyse the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of the INCS with market authorisation in Europe. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the ADR data from EudraVigilance in the period between the 1 January 2011 and 12 June 2023 was performed, with 2641 reports selected for analysis. ADRs were categorised by seriousness and evolution, with a focus on the most prevalent ADRs and their alignment with the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). Results: The 18–64 age group, particularly females, was most affected. Mometasone was the most reported INCS, with predominantly non-serious ADRs, evolving towards resolution, which often were not listed in the SmPC. From the reported ADRs that were not described in the SmPC of the INCS studied, "Anosmia" and "Ageusia" were highlighted. Regarding the ADRs described in the SmPC, the most frequently reported were "Epistaxis" and "Headache". The ADRs belonging to the Designated Medical Event list were also analysed, with "Angioedema" as the most reported ADR, which was mainly associated with budesonide. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of continuous INCS monitoring to mitigate ADRs and safeguard public health. Further research is warranted to explore potential novel signs for safety arising from previously unreported ADRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association of anosmia/ageusia with a positive severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test is well-established, suggesting these symptoms are reliable indicators of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. This study investigates the clinical characteristics and systemic inflammatory markers in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Taiwan, focusing on those with anosmia/ageusia. We conducted a retrospective observational study on 231 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (alpha variant) from April to July 2021. Clinical symptoms, dyspnea grading, and laboratory investigations, including neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios (NLRs), platelet-lymphocyte ratios (PLRs), and ANDC scores (an early warning score), were analyzed. Cough (64.1%), fever (58.9%), and dyspnea (56.3%) were the most common symptoms, while anosmia/ageusia affected 9% of patients. Those with anosmia/ageusia were younger, had lower BMI, lower systemic inflammatory markers, and better ANDC scores than those without these symptoms. Female patients exhibited lower NLR values and ANDC scores compared to male patients (all p < 0.05). Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated significant associations between NLR and CRP and ferritin levels (all p < 0.01), and between PLR and ESR and ferritin levels (p < 0.01). Categorized ANDC scores significantly correlated with the total hospital length of stay (all p < 0.05). Despite ethnic differences in the prevalence of anosmia/ageusia, our study highlights similar clinical presentations and inflammatory profiles to those observed in Western countries. The ANDC score effectively predicted hospital stay duration. These findings suggest that anosmia/ageusia may be associated with less severe disease and a lower inflammatory response, particularly in younger and female patients. The ANDC score can serve as a valuable prognostic tool in assessing the severity and expected hospital stay of COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the precarious porosity of the human body. Biological vulnerability and the fear of contagion in recent times has prompted the exercise of caution by enforcing distinct demarcating boundaries between the environment, the self, and the other. Thus, the faculty of touch is restricted despite its importance in functional, developmental, haptic, intimate, non-verbal, therapeutic, cultural, and social dimensions. Avenues of direct contact have been barred, with digital and mediated touch dominating various spheres. The lived experience of a population negotiating with the loss of tactile contact finds expression within the subjective narratives of the viral subject detailed insightfully through the medium of comics. Taking instances from graphic medicine, this paper aims to analyse the parameters of touch and tactility during the COVID-19 pandemic by close reading comic panels from various sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taste disorders (TDs) are common among systemically treated cancer patients and negatively impact their nutritional status and quality of life. The novel food approved by the European Commission (EFSA), dried miracle berries (DMB), contains the natural taste-modifying protein miraculin. DMB, also available as a supplement, has emerged as a possible alternative treatment for TDs. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of habitual DMB consumption in malnourished cancer patients undergoing active treatment. An exploratory clinical trial was carried out in which 31 cancer patients were randomized into three arms [standard dose of DMB (150 mg DMB/tablet), high dose of DMB (300 mg DMB/tablet) or placebo (300 mg freeze-dried strawberry)] for three months. Patients consumed a DMB tablet or placebo daily before each main meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Throughout the five main visits, electrochemical taste perception, nutritional status, dietary intake, quality of life and the fatty acid profile of erythrocytes were evaluated. Patients consuming a standard dose of DMB exhibited improved taste acuity over time (% change right/left side: −52.8 ± 38.5/−58.7 ± 69.2%) and salty taste perception (2.29 ± 1.25 vs. high dose: 2.17 ± 1.84 vs. placebo: 1.57 ± 1.51 points, p < 0.05). They also had higher energy intake (p = 0.075) and covered better energy expenditure (107 ± 19%). The quality of life evaluated by symptom scales improved in patients receiving the standard dose of DMB (constipation, p = 0.048). The levels of arachidonic (13.1 ± 1.8; 14.0 ± 2.8, 12.0 ± 2.0%; p = 0.004) and docosahexaenoic (4.4 ± 1.7; 4.1 ± 1.0; 3.9 ± 1.6%; p = 0.014) acids in erythrocytes increased over time after DMB intake. The standard dose of DMB increased fat-free mass vs. placebo (47.4 ± 9.3 vs. 44.1 ± 4.7 kg, p = 0.007). Importantly, habitual patients with DMB did not experience any adverse events, and metabolic parameters remained stable and within normal ranges. In conclusion, habitual consumption of a standard 150 mg dose of DMB improves electrochemical food perception, nutritional status (energy intake, fat quantity and quality, fat-free mass), and quality of life in malnourished cancer patients receiving antineoplastic treatment. Additionally, DMB consumption appears to be safe, with no changes in major biochemical parameters associated with health status. Clinical trial registered (NCT05486260). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Assessment of predictive values of clinical symptoms for COVID-19 diagnosis in young adults. Participants: Nonresidential university students (ages 18–25) participating in surveillance testing and mandatory symptom survey between 9/9/2020 and 11/25/2020. Methods: Retrospective study of test results and symptom survey data. Results: Among 6,489 individuals, 288 (4.4%) tested positive for COVID-19, 90 (31.3%) of whom reported symptoms. COVID-19 prevalence among individuals reporting and not reporting symptoms was 17.2% and 3.3%, respectively. The four symptoms with highest positive predictive values (PPVs) were smell/taste loss (PPV = 38.5%), chills (PPV = 31.5%), muscle/joint pain (PPV = 26.0%), and fever (PPV = 25.9%). Conclusions: Institutions should emphasize COVID-19 risk for highly predictive symptoms in public health messaging to inform individuals on when to seek testing or self-isolation. However, low COVID-19 diagnostic accuracy of clinical symptoms and the high pre-symptomatic/asymptomatic rate (69%) highlight the limitations of voluntary testing strategies employed by higher education institutions during the original strain of SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de la Facultad de Medicina de la UNAM is the property of UNAM, Facultad de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

INTRODUCTION Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a worldwide infection characterized by various symptoms. Few studies have examined its oral manifestations. However, there is insufficient information on the oral manifestations of patients with COVID-19 who use tobacco products. Therefore, this cross-sectional study investigated oral symptoms of tobacco-using patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. METHODS This study used a convenience sample of non-hospitalized patients (aged ≥18 years) with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 diagnosed by polymerized chain reaction (PCR). This study excluded pregnant or lactating women or patients with serious COVID-19 complications, including those who required hospitalization or were on specific medications (antiviral, corticosteroid, antimicrobial, or immunosuppressive). Oral examinations were performed, including labial, buccal, and gingival mucosa, tongue, floor of the mouth, and palate, for any newly developed lesions associated with the onset of COVID-19. The salivary flow was determined using the passive drool collection technique. RESULTS Lip dryness, gingivitis, tongue lesions, and taste loss were the most commonly reported oral symptoms in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. The most common general symptoms were tiredness and headache (63.9%), followed by dry cough, myalgia, sore throat, and fever. This study found 139 occurrences of oral symptoms, of which 52 were dry lips (27 tobacco non-users, and 25 tobacco users), and 11 were gingivitis (five non-users, and six tobacco users), and 12 tongue changes (eight non-users, and four tobacco users). Ageusia, or loss of taste sensation, was most commonly reported with or without other oral COVID-19 symptoms (55 occurrences: 36 non-users and 19 tobacco users). No significant differences were found in oral symptoms between tobacco non-users and tobacco users. CONCLUSIONS There is a need to expand the routine examination protocol for patients during future respiratory pandemics, as monitoring oral health allows dentists to improve the management of oral sequelae during a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 70-year-old right-handed housewife suffered an acute loss of taste, an unpleasant change in the taste of foods and liquids, and a strong aversion to all kinds of food due to a small lacune in the right dorsomedial pontine tegmentum. Eating became so unpleasant that she lost 7 kg in three weeks. Olfaction and the sensibility of the tongue were spared. The right medial longitudinal fascicle, the central tegmental tract, or both, were injured by the tegmental lesion. A discrete right-sided lesion in the upper pontine tegmentum may cause a reversible syndrome consisting of bilateral hypogeusia which is more severe ipsilaterally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taste and smell disorders are common symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 acute infection. In post-COVID-19 condition, symptoms can persist leading to disruption in patients' lives, to changes in their coping skills, and to the need to develop strategies for everyday life. This study aimed to describe the perspective of a group of patients with Long-COVID-19, a condition where loss of taste and/or smell was the most predominant symptom. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Participants who had suffered SARS-CoV-2 infection and had Long-COVID-19 loss of taste and/or smell were recruited. Purposive sampling was applied, and participants were recruited until data redundancy was reached. In-depth interviews were used for data collection and thematic analysis was applied. Twelve COVID-19 survivors (75% women) were recruited. The mean age of the participants was 55 years, and the mean duration of post-COVID-19 symptoms was 25 months. Three themes were identified: (a) Living with taste and smell disorders, describing the disorders they experience on a daily basis, how their life has changed and the accompanying emotions, (b) Changes and challenges resulting from the loss of taste and smell, changes in habits, self-care and risk in certain jobs or daily activities, (c) Coping with taste and smell disorders, describing the daily strategies used and the health care received. In conclusion, Long-COVID-19 taste and/or smell disorders limit daily life and involve changes in habits, meal preparation, and the ability to detect potentially dangerous situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of the study was to analyze objective and subjective olfactory/gustatory function in post‐COVID‐19 infection (PCI). Materials and Methods: Patients with past PCR‐confirmed COVID‐19 infection and persistent olfactory/gustatory complaints were investigated. Olfactory threshold and identification, gustatory detection, identification, and magnitude scaling were tested. Results: A total of 42 PCI subjects were compared to 41 age‐ and gender‐matched controls with no COVID‐19 history. All PCI tested had mild COVID‐19 disease. Mean interval between COVID‐19 confirmations to testing was 7.4 ± 3.1 months. PCI subjects complained of combined dysfunction in 85.7%, isolated olfactory or gustatory dysfunction in 7.1% each. Combined complaints were significantly higher in PCI (p < 0.001). Objective testing showed significantly higher prevalence of dysfunction in PCI versus controls for hyposmia (73.8%, 12.2%), anosmia (11.9%, 0%), odor identification (68.5%, 83.0%), hypogeusia (23% and 2.4%, respectively), and impaired magnitude scaling, (p < 0.05). All PCI subjects with hypogeusia had abnormal gustatory magnitude scaling. Conclusions: While most PCI subjects complained of combined gustatory and olfactory dysfunction, objective testing showed in the majority an isolated single sense dysfunction, with a low level of agreement between subjective and objective findings. Abnormal objective results for all olfactory and gustatory functions tested may suggest a central rather than peripheral mechanism, although concomitant mechanisms cannot be excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Reduced functional capacity, dyspnea, fatigue, and changes in body composition are common in patients with post‐COVID‐19 syndrome (PCS), and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation may improve these parameters. Thus, the present study verified the effects of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (respiratory, aerobic, and resistance muscle training) on submaximal exercise tolerance, dyspnea, fatigue, and body composition. Methods: This controlled and randomized clinical trial applied a six‐week outpatient intervention protocol in individuals over 18 years old (n = 33) with a diagnosis of COVID‐19 confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. These individuals were allocated to cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (n = 17) or control groups (i.e., educational lectures; n = 16). The cardiopulmonary rehabilitation group performed respiratory, aerobic, and resistance muscle training. Submaximal exercise tolerance, dyspnea, fatigue, and body composition were assessed before and after the protocol. Results: After 6 weeks, the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation group increased the tolerance to submaximal exercise, with a difference of 100.46 m (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.40–193 m) in the distance walked on the six‐minute walk test, reduced dyspnea (−1.45, 95% CI: −1.98–−0.92) in the modified Medical Research Council, and increased 0.63 kg (95% CI: 0.09–1.18 kg) of muscle mass in the upper limbs compared with the control group. Conclusion: The six‐week cardiopulmonary rehabilitation protocol improved functional capacity, reduced dyspnea, and increased muscle mass in the upper limbs in individuals with PCS. Thus, these results supported the protocol use in this population and encourage further studies to assess its effectiveness in a large sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome that is called long COVID-19 consists of the symptoms that last more than 12 weeks with no other explanation. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence, frequency of symptoms, and risk factors of long COVID-19 in the healthcare workers (HCWs) of a selected hospital in Kashan/Iran in 2023. Methods: A total of 350 HCWs with a history of COVID-19 infection were randomly recruited to the study from February to May 2023. Participants completed a questionnaire including demographic characteristics, information related to COVID-19 infection, underlying diseases, and a checklist of long COVID-19 symptoms. Mann‒Whitney U test, chi-square test, T‒tests, and binary logistic regression were used for data analysis by SPSS 16. Results: The results showed that 75.7% of HCWs experienced symptoms of long COVID-19. The most common symptoms were fatigue (53.1%), cough (43.1%) and muscle weakness (37.1%). In bivariate analysis job title, body mass index (BMI), frequency and number of symptoms of COVID-19 infection, preexisting disease, tobacco use, age, and years of experience showed a significant statistical association with long COVID-19. In binary logistic regression the number of symptoms during COVID-19 infection, nursing occupation, use of corticosteroids, and symptoms of dyspnea and loss of taste could explain the occurrence of long COVID-19. Conclusion: The long COVID-19 is a prevalent condition among HCWs especially nurses. Symptoms of long COVID-19 such as fatigue and cough can persists over time. This chronic condition has significant associations with different clinical risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Studies have emerged about a syndrome of persistent symptoms of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection called 'Long COVID', which have mostly focused on the first 3 months. This study examined rates and predictors of Long COVID symptoms lasting beyond 3 months (termed Long2 COVID). Methods A longitudinal cohort study using a population-based sample of 511 adults in San Antonio, Texas with laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 were assessed for Long2 COVID. Inverse probability weighting was used. Results In the sample, 19.18–59.10% met criteria for Long2 COVID depending on the definition. In general, Long COVID symptoms decreased after 3 months with the notable exception of an observed increase in loss of taste and smell. White Hispanic (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 7.66; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.78, 32.87) background and baseline depression symptoms (aOR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.65) were predictive of Long2 COVID. Long2 COVID was also associated with greater anxiety symptoms 6 months after onset of COVID-19. Conclusions A sizable proportion report COVID-19 symptoms lasting more than 3 months and some symptoms even increased over time. Adults who are Hispanic white adults or have depression may be at greater risk for Long2 COVID. Further research is needed on why some adults experience Long COVID and how to reduce the duration of illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The SARS CoV-2 infection, responsible for COVID-19, has spread worldwide starting with the end of 2019, with major impact in the years 2020 and 2021, especially through the alpha, beta, and delta strains respectively. These strains have also been associated with the development of symptoms of anosmia and ageusia, even after overcoming the acute form of the disease, as part of the post-COVID-19 sequalae that make up the so-called "long-Covid". [1] The purpose of this systematic literature review was to study these disabling symptoms in the context of long-COVID syndrome. Material and methods: In order to accomplish this review, we used the method Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (acronym - PRISMA) to filter and select the articles of interest that appeared in the period 1/01/2021-31/12/2022, in the international medical databases: Elsevier, NCBI/PubMed,NCBI/PMC and PEDro (= Physiotherapy Evidence Database classification), as well as ISI Web of Knowledge (Institute for Scientific Information - ex Thomson Reuters - Clarivate Analytics). We used the keywords for the selection: "COVID-19" / "viral neuroinfections" + "smell"/"olphactory" + "taste"/"gustatory"+ "anosmia" + 'ageusia' +'recovery'+'rehabilitation'. Results and discussion: After applying indirect and then direct quantitative and qualitative filtering, 25 articles remained that met the selection criteria (noted in order of relevance in table 1, at the end of the article). We also added a number of freely identified papers, considered relevant to our topic. We studied aspects of the "long-COVID" syndrome, mainly related to neuro-psychiatric symptoms - especially taste and smell disorders (anosmia/ageusia), risk factors, predictors for this status, pathophysiology, their intricate mechanism of action, frequency of symptoms, neuroanatomy imaging correlated with clinical aspects, effect of anosmia and ageusia on quality of life, recovery from such sequelae, favorable/unfavorable prognostic factors in this regard. Conclusions: Smell and taste are more than just simple sensations/perceptions and anosmia/ageusia does not always recover spontaneously. The category of patients who are left with such permanent qualitative/quantitative alterations requires in-depth study in order to establish standardized and more effective methods of diagnosis, evaluation and treatment and recovery, than those available at the moment. The chosen topic represents a partially studied niche in the current well of knowledge, which will allow us, following the theoretical and practical deepening of the subject, some possible elements of future contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medical Journal of Bakirkoy is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Simple Summary: This study analyzed the associations of taste dysfunctions as measured by validated taste strips with demographics and co-morbidities. The study demonstrated that taste dysfunction was associated with older age, male sex, and co-morbidities such a previous major trauma, being under chemotherapy, zinc deficiency, burning mouth syndrome, and exposure to toxins. The study highlights the importance of assessment of taste disorders with a validated objective tool of taste strips and of comprehensive assessment of co-morbidities as part of the diagnostic process of patients with subjective complaints of taste disorders. This study aimed to analyze the associations of gustatory dysfunction as measured by validated taste strips with demographics and co-morbidities. This cross-sectional study retrospectively analyzed records of patients who attended the Orofacial Chemosensory Center of Hadassah Medical Center between 2017 and 2020. Taste strips were used as a validated method to determine taste dysfunction. A total of 272 subjects were included, 137 (50.4%) women and 135 (49.6%) men, with a mean age of 53.5 ± 19.3 years and age range of 18–98 years. The total taste score among the study population was 8.53 ± 4.03 (scale range 0–16). Age had a significant negative correlation with the total taste score (p = 0.001), and men exhibited worse total (p < 0.001), salty (p = 0.003), and bitter (p < 0.001) scores. Major trauma was associated with worse total (p < 0.001) and specialized taste assessments (sweet (p = 0.001), sour (p = 0.002), salty (p = 0.016), and bitter (p < 0.001)). Chemotherapy was associated with reduced total (p < 0.001), salty (p = 0.003), and bitter (p = 0.001) taste scores. Zinc deficiency exhibited worse salty (p = 0.027) and total (p = 0.038) taste scores. Patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) showed higher salty scores (p = 0.017). Patients who experienced exposure to toxic chemicals exhibited worse salty scores (p = 0.024). We conclude that gustatory dysfunction is associated with older age, male sex, and co-morbidities of major trauma, current chemotherapy, zinc deficiency, BMS, and exposure to toxins. The study highlights the importance of systemic evaluation and quantitive gustatory dysfunction assessment as part of the diagnostic process of patients with subjective complaints of taste disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This scoping review aims to describe published work on the symptoms and management of long COVID conditions. Background: Symptoms and management of COVID‐19 have focused on the acute stage. However, long‐term consequences have also been observed. Methods: A scoping review was performed based on the framework suggested by Arksey and O'Malley. We conducted a literature search to retrieve articles published from May 2020 to March 2021 in CINHAL, Cochrane library, Embase, PubMed and Web of science, including backward and forward citation tracking from the included articles. Among the 1880 articles retrieved, 34 articles met our criteria for review: 21 were related to symptom presentation and 13 to the management of long COVID. Results: Long COVID symptoms were described in 21 articles. Following COVID‐19 treatment, hospitalised patients most frequently reported dyspnoea, followed by anosmia/ageusia, fatigue and cough, while non‐hospitalised patients commonly reported cough, followed by fever and myalgia/arthralgia. Thirteen studies described management for long COVID: Focused on a multidisciplinary approach in seven articles, pulmonary rehabilitation in three articles, fatigue management in two articles and psychological therapy in one study. Conclusion: People experience varied COVID‐19 symptoms after treatment. However, guidelines on evidence‐based, multidisciplinary management for long COVID conditions are limited in the literature. The COVID‐19 pandemic may extend due to virus mutations; therefore, it is crucial to develop and disseminate evidence‐based, multidisciplinary management guidelines. Relevance to clinical practice: A rehabilitation care plan and community healthcare plans are necessary for COVID‐19 patients before discharge. Remote programmes could facilitate the monitoring and screening of people with long COVID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the recovery of olfactory function at six months in individuals infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 omicron variant, using psychophysical tests. Methods: A prospective case–control study that included severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 patients infected in February and March 2022 was conducted. Patients underwent the Sniffin' Sticks test within 10 days of infection and again after at least 6 months. The olfactory scores were compared with those of a control group. Results: In all, 102 patients and 120 controls were enrolled in the study. At baseline, 26 patients (25.5 per cent) self-reported smell loss. The median threshold, discrimination and identification score was 33.6 (interquartile range, 12.5) for the cases and 36.5 (interquartile range, 4.38) for the controls (p < 0.001). Based on the threshold, discrimination and identification scores, 12 controls and 34 patients reported olfactory dysfunction (p < 0.001). Eighty cases underwent re-evaluation at six months; the median threshold, discrimination and identification score was 37.1 (interquartile range, 4.75) with no significant differences compared with the controls. Conclusion: Six months after infection, the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in patients did not differ significantly from the control population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This trial aimed to monitor the outcomes of persistent post-covid-19 smell and taste disorders after cerebrolysin therapy, a NTF, and olfactory and gustatory trainings. This was a prospective randomized trial. It included 250 patients (male = 93, female = 157; age: 31.3 ± 8.9 years). Patients were randomized into group 1 (n = 150): received cerebrolysin [5 ml/d (IM), 5d/week] and practiced olfactory and gustatory trainings, and group 2 (n = 100): practiced olfactory and gustatory trainings only, for ≥ 8–24 weeks. Measures of outcomes were: a clinical questionnaire; sniffin' odor, taste and flavor identification tests; and global rating scales for smell and taste. The duration of disorders was 11.7 ± 3.7mo (range: 6-24mo). The majority (n = 167; 66.8%) developed parosmia within months (3.6 ± 2.7mo) after anosmia. Objective testing showed anosmia in all and taste, flavor, and trigeminal sensory losses in 18% (n = 45). Analyses for secondary outcome were done on 202 patients (group 1 = 130; group 2 = 72). Recovery was complete in 61.5% (n = 80) with cerebrolysin therapy and partial in 17% (n = 22). There was no recovery with trainings only. There were no predictors for recovery. Cerebrolysin had fast, promising, and constant effect, with cure rate of > 60%. This might be due to its ability to initiate and enhance neuronal regeneration and reorganization of sensory epithelia. NCT04830943. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early studies have highlighted the possible development of dysgeusia and anosmia in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and these manifestations should be considered a potential indication of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). As potential contributors to these symptoms, dentists should perform careful oral and oropharyngeal examinations and document suspicious oral lesions in patients with COVID-19, especially in those who complain of loss of taste and smell. The study's objective was to assess the prevalence of oral manifestations among ambulatory unvaccinated symptomatic patients with suspected COVID-19 during the acute phase of the disease. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated oral manifestations in adults (aged ≥ 18 years) with suspected and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare data between the groups (rRT-PCR-positive and rRT-PCR-negative patients). Results: One hundred thirty-six participants were included. Most were female (n = 79; 58.1%), with a mean age of 39.53 (± 14.17) years. Of these, 54 (39.7%) had a positive rRT-PCR test, and 82 (60.3%) had negative rRT-PCR results. Oral manifestations were observed in 40 participants (74.1%) in the rRT-PCR-positive group and 67 participants (81.7%) in the rRT-PCR-negative group. The most common oral manifestations were xerostomia (n = 85; 62.5%) and dysgeusia/ageusia (n = 57; 41.9%). Different rates of gingivitis (n = 12; 22.2% vs. n = 5; 6.1%; p = 0.005) and halitosis (n = 7; 13.0% vs. n = 1; 1.2%; p = 0.007) were observed between the rRT-PCR-positive and -negative groups, respectively. Mouth ulcers, glossitis, tongue coating, and petechiae were reported in both groups without significant differences. Conclusions: A high prevalence of oral manifestations was observed in symptomatic patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Clinical Relevance: This study highlights the importance of routine oral examinations by dentists as part of the multidisciplinary care of COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of the sense of taste and smell is a common side effect of Covid 19. It is thought that transcutaneous ear vagus nerve stimulation may affect taste and smell as a result of neural connections. We present a 27-year-old female participant diagnosed with loss of taste and smell for more than 1 year. The Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) olfactory test was used to test the sense of smell. To test the sense of taste, 3 drops of taste test were applied. It was found that during the application period of 1 session per day for 15 days, there was a progressive improvement in the sense of taste and smell. However, it was found that the effect was not significant in restoring the sense of smell and the ability to distinguish odors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored two different graph methods for visualizing the prevalence of self-reported post-COVID anosmia and ageusia in a large sample of individuals who had been previously hospitalized in five different hospitals. A cohort of 1266 previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors participated. Participants were assessed at hospitalization (T0) and at three different follow-up periods: 8.4 (T1), 13.2 (T2), and 18.3 (T3) months after hospital discharge. They were asked about the presence of self-reported anosmia and ageusia that they attributed to infection. Anosmia was defined as a self-perceived feeling of complete loss of smell. Ageusia was defined as a self-perceived feeling of complete loss of taste. Data about hospitalization were recorded from medical records. The results revealed that the prevalence of anosmia decreased from 8.29% (n = 105) at hospitalization (T0), to 4.47% (n = 56) at T1, to 3.27% (n = 41) at T2, and 3.35% (n = 42) at T3. Similarly, the prevalence of ageusia was 7.10% (n = 89) at the onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection (T0), but decreased to 3.03% (n = 38) at T1, to 1.99% (n = 25) at T2, and 1.36% (n = 17) at T3. The Sankey plots showed that only 10 (0.8%) and 11 (0.88%) patients exhibited anosmia and ageusia throughout all the follow-ups. The exponential curves revealed a progressive decrease in prevalence, demonstrating that self-reported anosmia and ageusia improved in the years following hospitalization. The female sex (OR4.254, 95% CI 1.184–15.294) and sufferers of asthma (OR7.086, 95% CI 1.359–36.936) were factors associated with the development of anosmia at T2, whereas internal care unit admission was a protective factor (OR0.891, 95% CI 0.819–0.970) for developing anosmia at T2. The use of a graphical method, such as a Sankey plot, shows that post-COVID self-reported anosmia and ageusia exhibit fluctuations during the first years after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, self-reported anosmia and ageusia also show a decrease in prevalence during the first years after infection, as expressed by exponential bar plots. The female sex was associated with the development of post-COVID anosmia, but not ageusia, in our cohort of elderly patients previously hospitalized due to COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the clinical presentation and prevalence of COVID-19 in a collegiate population at the time of initial recognition and testing. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of all students tested for COVID-19 at the University of Florida Student Health Care Center between March 9th and April 17th, 2020, comprising the first 6 weeks after spring break. Results: Twenty-five of 296 students (8.4%) tested positive for COVID-19. No significant differences were seen between positive and negative students regarding travel history or known exposures. Students who tested positive more commonly experienced fatigue, congestion, nausea, chest pain, anosmia, ageusia, anorexia, abdominal discomfort, and new problems sleeping over the course of illness. Conclusion: Initial symptoms unreliably clinically distinguish COVID-19 from other viral illnesses amongst college students. Providers should continue to have a low threshold for testing, especially as universities have seen large surges in cases related to students returning to campus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a highly challenging and threatening situation worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 patients develop various clinical symptoms. The olfactory and taste dysfunctions are potential neurological manifestations among SARS-CoV-2 patients; however, their relationship with blood groups has rarely been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of chemosensitive neurological disorders of smell and taste and their association with blood groups in SARS-CoV-2 patients. The present cross-sectional study was performed in the Department of Pathology, and Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A well-structured, self-administered questionnaire was designed and distributed through social media platforms. A total of 922 Saudi and non-Saudi adults aged 18 years or older participated in the study. Out of 922 participants, the number of people who had anosmia was 309 (33.5%), 211 (22.9%) had hyposmia, and 45 (4.8%) had dysosmia. Moreover, 180 (19.52%) had ageusia, 47 (5.1%) and 293 (31.8%) had hypogeusia and dysgeusia, respectively. Among all the participants, 565 (61.27%) had smell-related disorders and 520 (56.39%) participants had taste-related clinical symptoms. The occurrence of anosmia and ageusia was relatively high among females compared to males (p = 0.024). The prevalence of smell-related disorders was 25.0% (230) and taste-related disorders was 23.21% (214) among the study participants with blood group O compared to all other blood group (A, B, and AB) participants who have smell allied disorders 30.69% (283), and taste allied disorders 27.98% (258). The prevalence of chemosensitive neurological disorders involving impaired smell and taste was higher in SARS-CoV-2 patients. These clinical symptoms were common among the participants with blood group type O compared to all other ABO blood group types. The role of certain demographic characteristics was consistent throughout multiple studies, notably with female gender and young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Loss of taste (ageusia) is a symptom observed following recovery from COVID-19 infection. The loss of taste and smell sensation may negatively affect patients' quality of life (QoL). The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Diode Laser in managing loss of taste sensation in patients with post-COVID syndrome versus the placebo. Material and method: The study sample was 36 patients who complained of persistent loss of taste sensation following COVID-19. The patients were randomly assigned to one of the two groups according to the received treatment: Group I (laser treatment) and Group II (light treatment), with each patient receiving a diode laser treatment or placebo from the same operator. Taste sensation was subjectively measured after treatment for four weeks. Results: The results demonstrated a significant difference between both groups regarding taste restoration after one month (p = 0.041), with Group II having a significantly higher percentage of cases 7 (38.9%) with partial taste restoration. In contrast, a significantly higher proportion of Group I 17 cases (94.4%) had complete taste restoration (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The present study concluded that using a Diode laser 810 nm aided in a more rapid recovery from loss of taste dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the olfactory function in a series of individuals infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 and who had undergone psychophysical olfactory assessment prior to infection. Individuals unexposed to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection underwent a psychophysical evaluation of smell with the Sniffin' Sticks test. The subjects were followed prospectively and included in the study if they developed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection with a second test 60 days after recovery. At the 60‐day follow‐up of the 41 included subjects, 2 (4.9%) self‐reported persistent olfactory dysfunction (OD). The differences between TDI scores before and after infection were statistically significant (37 [interquartile range (IQR), 34.25‐39.25] vs 34.75 [IQR, 32.25‐38]; p =.021). Analyzing the individual olfactory domains, the differences were significant for threshold (T) (9.75 [IQR, 9‐11.25] vs 8.25 [IQR, 7.25‐10.25]; p =.009) but not for odor discrimination (D) (p =.443) and identification (I) (p =.159). SARS‐CoV‐2 causes a significant reduction in the olfactory function, in particular affecting the olfactory threshold, even in subjects who do not self‐report an OD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To directly compare the prevalence of chemosensory dysfunction (smell and taste) in geographically distinct regions with the same questionnaires. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the self-reported symptoms among adults (older than 18 years) who underwent COVID-19 testing at an ambulatory assessment center in Canada and at a hospital in Israel between March 16, 2020, and August 19, 2020. The primary outcome was the prevalence of self-reported chemosensory dysfunction (anosmia/hypomsia and dysgeusia/ageusia). Subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate the prevalence of chemosensory deficits among the outpatients. Results: We identified a total of 350 COVID-19–positive patients (138 Canadians and 212 Israelis). The overall prevalence of chemosensory dysfunction was 47.1%. There was a higher proportion of chemosensory deficits among Canadians compared to Israelis (66.7% vs 34.4%, P <.01). A subgroup analysis for outpatients (never hospitalized) still identified a higher prevalence of chemosensory dysfunction among Canadians compared to Israelis (68.2% vs 36.1%, P < 0.01). A majority of patients recovered their sense of smell after 4 weeks of symptom onset. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of chemosensory deficit in COVID-19 was found to be similar to previously published reports, the prevalence can vary significantly across different geographical regions. Therefore, it is important to obtain regionally specific data so that the symptom of anosmia/dysgeusia can be used as a guide for screening for the clinical diagnosis of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The purpose of this case report is to describe the main components of the history and physical examination that led to idiopathic intracranial hypertension differential diagnosis, which initially was investigated as COVID-19. Methods (Case Description) A 28-year-old woman complaining of constant headache and loss of smell and taste was suspected as SARS-CoV-2 infection by her general practitioner. She underwent 3 molecular swab tests, all negative, then decided to seek her physical therapist for relieving headache. Results The full cranial nerve examination revealed impaired olfactory (CNI), abducens (CN VI), and facial (CN VII) nerves, leading the physical therapist to refer the patient to a neurosurgeon for a suspected central nervous system involvement. The neurosurgeon prescribed a detailed MRI and an ophthalmologic examination, which allowed for the final diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Conclusion An urgent lumbo-peritoneal shunting surgery resolved the patient's symptoms and saved her sight. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, health care professionals must pay attention to properly investigating patients' signs and symptoms using comprehensive clinical reasoning, considering the screening for referral to specialist medical attention. Impact A thorough physical examination is required for every patient even if patients' signs and symptoms are in line with apparent common and widespread pathologies. Cranial nerve evaluation is an essential component of the physical therapist assessment and decision-making process. The ongoing pandemic highlighted the fundamental assistance of physical therapists toward physicians in the screening and management of musculoskeletal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Diyala Journal of Medicine is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The evolution of ageusia research literature has yet to be investigated. This bibliometric study analyzed the entire ageusia research literature indexed in Web of Science, to reveal its growth and the most productive entities in terms of authors, institutions, countries, journals, and journal categories. In addition, this study aimed to identify medical conditions (and their treatments) that were frequently associated with ageusia. On 7 March 2022, the Web of Science Core Collection database was accessed with the following search query: TS = (ageusia OR "taste loss" OR "loss of taste" OR "loss of gustat*" OR "gustatory loss"). The search identified publications mentioning these terms in their title, abstract, or keywords. No additional filters were placed on publication year, language, etc. The basic publication and citation counts were extracted from the in-built functions of the database. The complete record of the publications was exported into VOSviewer, a bibliometric software for visualizations. The search yielded 1170 publications. The cumulative publication and citation counts of the ageusia research sharply increased in 2020. The most productive author was Professor Thomas Hummel from Technische Universität Dresden. Ageusia research had heavy contributions from the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and India. The top 5 most productive journals mainly belonged to the otorhinolaryngology and medicine categories. The medical conditions frequently investigated in ageusia research included COVID-19, cancers (head and neck, and advanced basal cell), Guillain-Barré syndrome, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and Sjogren's syndrome. This study could act as a begvinner's guide for (1) clinicians who are not familiar with ageusia so that they might better understand which scenarios they need to be more aware of since ageusia could be a co-morbidity of a patient's underlying disease, and (2) for those who wish to search for relevant authors and journals for suitable publications related to the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between resilience and health-related quality of life in patients following COVID-19 disease among those with and without lingering symptoms. The study design is descriptive and cross-sectional. Participants (n = 97) were adults who had earlier contracted COVID-19 disease and were in post-infection status between July and October 2020. Participants completed the following instruments: Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Short-Form 12-item Health Survey, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Approximately 35% post-COVID-19 patients had a low level of resilience. The impact on the health status and resilience of those who had reported symptoms after 6 months was also significant. Age and depression had a significant impact on level of resilience. This relationship can affect patient recovery and negatively impact the ability to cope with COVID-19 disease. It is necessary to implement specialized training for clinicians on the effects of long-term COVID-19 to improve patient care. Long COVID symptoms might manifest months after an acute COVID-19 illness; clinicians who can confirm patient reports of these symptoms may help patients recover and become more resilient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on senses of taste and smell influencing one's breath self-perception. Topics include observational studies and clinical trials assessing halitosis in association with chemosensory disorders; and sensory assessment, otolaryngology examination, and selfreported being used for assessing taste alterations.

The article present a case study of previously healthy 36-year-old man with complaints of headache and dizziness for two days. It discusses about demyelinating inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) in the context of COVID-19; the potential link between COVID-19 and autoimmune demyelinating disorders; and diverse mechanisms, including viral invasion, cytokine response and autoimmune reactions against the CNS.

Long-COVID is a clinical condition in which patients affected by SARS-CoV-2 usually report a wide range of physical and cognitive symptoms from 3 to 6 months after the infection recovery. The aim of the current study was to assess the link between self-reported long-COVID symptoms and reaction times (RTs) in a self-administered Visual Detection Task (VDT) in order to identify the predictor symptoms of the slowing in reaction times to determine attention impairment. In total, 362 participants (age (mean ± S.D.: 38.56 ± 13.14); sex (female–male: 73.76–26.24%)) responded to a web-based self-report questionnaire consisting of four sections: demographics, disease-related characteristics, and medical history questions. The final section consisted of a 23 item 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire related to long-term COVID-19 symptoms. After completing the questionnaire, subjects performed a VDT on a tablet screen to assess reaction times (RTs). An exploratory factorial analysis (EFA) was performed on the 23 long-COVID symptom questions, identifying 4 factors (cognition, behavior, physical condition, presence of anosmia and/or ageusia). The most important predictors of RTs were cognition and physical factors. By dissecting the cognitive and physical factors, learning, visual impairment, and headache were the top predictors of subjects' performance in the VDT. Long-COVID subjects showed higher RTs in the VDT after a considerable time post-disease, suggesting the presence of an attention deficit disorder. Attention impairment due to COVID-19 can be due to the presence of headaches, visual impairments, and the presence of cognitive problems related to the difficulty in learning new activities. The link between the slowing of reaction times and physical and cognitive symptoms post-COVID-19 suggests that attention deficit disorder is caused by a complex interaction between physical and cognitive symptoms. In addition, the study provides evidence that RTs in a VDT represent a reliable measure to detect the presence of long-COVID neurological sequelae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Türkiye Klinikleri Journal of Ophthalmology is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Chemosensory scientists have been skeptical that reports of COVID-19 taste loss are genuine, in part because before COVID-19 taste loss was rare and often confused with smell loss. Therefore, to establish the predicted prevalence rate of taste loss in COVID-19 patients, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 376 papers published in 2020–2021, with 235 meeting all inclusion criteria. Drawing on previous studies and guided by early meta-analyses, we explored how methodological differences (direct vs. self-report measures) may affect these estimates. We hypothesized that direct measures of taste are at least as sensitive as those obtained by self-report and that the preponderance of evidence confirms taste loss is a symptom of COVID-19. The meta-analysis showed that, among 138,015 COVID-19-positive patients, 36.62% reported taste dysfunction (95% confidence interval: 33.02%–40.39%), and the prevalence estimates were slightly but not significantly higher from studies using direct (n = 15) versus self-report (n = 220) methodologies (Q = 1.73, df = 1, P = 0.1889). Generally, males reported lower rates of taste loss than did females, and taste loss was highest among middle-aged adults. Thus, taste loss is likely a bona fide symptom of COVID-19, meriting further research into the most appropriate direct methods to measure it and its underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People often confuse smell loss with taste loss, so it is unclear how much gustatory function is reduced in patients self-reporting taste loss. Our pre-registered cross-sectional study design included an online survey in 12 languages with instructions for self-administering chemosensory tests with 10 household items. Between June 2020 and March 2021, 10,953 individuals participated. Of these, 5,225 self-reported a respiratory illness and were grouped based on their reported COVID test results: COVID-positive (COVID+, N = 3,356), COVID-negative (COVID−, N = 602), and COVID unknown for those waiting for a test result (COVID?, N = 1,267). The participants who reported no respiratory illness were grouped by symptoms: sudden smell/taste changes (STC, N = 4,445), other symptoms excluding smell or taste changes (OthS, N = 832), and no symptoms (NoS, N = 416). Taste, smell, and oral irritation intensities and self-assessed abilities were rated on visual analog scales. Compared to the NoS group, COVID+ was associated with a 21% reduction in taste (95% confidence interval (CI): 15–28%), 47% in smell (95% CI: 37–56%), and 17% in oral irritation (95% CI: 10–25%) intensity. There were medium to strong correlations between perceived intensities and self-reported abilities (r = 0.84 for smell, r = 0.68 for taste, and r = 0.37 for oral irritation). Our study demonstrates that COVID-19-positive individuals report taste dysfunction when self-tested with stimuli that have little to none olfactory components. Assessing the smell and taste intensity of household items is a promising, cost-effective screening tool that complements self-reports and may help to disentangle taste loss from smell loss. However, it does not replace standardized validated psychophysical tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrogustometry (EGM) is a practical way to test taste. It is typically performed using unipolar electrodes, with the anode on the tongue and the cathode on the hand, forearm, or neck. This results in electric current passing through nontaste tissues and adds a level of impracticality to its clinical application. We compared, using a repeated measures counterbalanced design, anodal thresholds from a unipolar electrode to those of a unique bipolar electrode in which the anode and cathode are contiguously located. Both sides of the anterior tongue were assessed in 70 subjects, as were the effects of age and sex. Nonparametric analyses were performed. The median threshold of the bipolar electrode's central disk (2.49 µA) did not differ from that of the unipolar electrode (2.96 µA) (P = 0.84). On average, older persons exhibited higher thresholds. No significant sex or tongue side effects were evident. Interestingly, when the annular (donut-shaped) bipolar electrode served as the anode, the threshold was higher than that of the other electrodes (5.19 µA; P s < 0.001). This conceivably reflected lessened summation of activity among adjacent afferents and partial sampling of tongue regions with fewer taste buds. Correlations among all EGM thresholds were nominally higher for women than for men, ranging from 0.83 to 0.85 for women and 0.54 to 0.67 for men; all P s < 0.001. This study validates the use of a bipolar electrode for assessing taste function, averting movement of current through nontaste-related tissues and making such testing safer and more practical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río is the property of Editorial Ciencias Medicas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: There is evidence that chemosensory dysfunctions, including smell and taste disorders, are common findings in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the underlying biological mechanisms and the role of inflammatory markers are still poorly understood. Aim: To investigate the inflammatory biomarkers levels in patients with COVID-19 presenting chemosensory dysfunctions. Methods: This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. A systematic literature search was performed from January 1, 2020, to May 12, 2022. Observational studies that provided data on hematological, biochemical, infection-related indices and cellular immunity, and coagulation function in patients with COVID-19 experiencing smell and/or taste disorders were considered eligible. Effect sizes were reported as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A negative effect size indicated that the inflammatory biomarker levels were lower among patients with chemosensory dysfunctions. Results: Eleven studies were included. Patients with chemosensory disturbances had lower levels of leukocytes (SMD − 0.18, 95% CI − 0.35 to − 0.01, p = 0.04), lactate dehydrogenase (SMD − 0.45, 95% CI − 0.82 to − 0.09, p = 0.01), IL-6 (SMD − 0.25, 95% CI − 0.44 to − 0.06, p < 0.01), and C-reactive protein (SMD − 0.33, 95% CI − 0.58 to − 0.08, p < 0.01) than patients without chemosensory disturbances. Conclusion: Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who have olfactory and gustatory disorders have a lower inflammatory response than patients who do not have chemosensory alterations. The presence of these symptoms may indicate a more favorable clinical course for COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus produces a new disease termed COVID‐19, the underlying physiological mechanisms of which are still being understood. Characteristic of the infection is the compromising of taste and smell. There is a persistent need to discriminate the dysfunctions and correlation between taste and smell, which are probably epiphenomena of other concealed conditions. Anosmic and ageusic long‐term COVID‐19 patients were re‐evaluated after 1 year using a Volabolomic approach with an e‐nose recording system coupled with olfactometric and gustometric tests. Here a range of sensory arrangements was found, from normal taste and smell to complete losses. The following patterns of olfactory threshold (OT)‐taste threshold‐olfactory uni‐ and cross‐modal perception were found anosmia‐severe hypogeusia‐anosmia; hyposmia‐hypogeusia‐severe hyposmia; normosmia‐ageusia‐hyposmia; severe hyposmia ‐normogeusia‐normosmia. There is a strong correlation between OT and olfactory uni‐ and cross‐modal perception, a moderate correlation between olfactory and taste threshold and no correlation between OT and taste threshold. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for the feasibility of testing the chemical senses to directly objectify function in order to discriminate taste from olfactory impairment. Furthermore, it allows to hypothesize a long‐term effect of the virus due to neuroinvasion through, probably, the olfactory system with injury in the related multisensory areas of taste and smell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 virus quickly spread globally, infecting over half a billion individuals, and killing over 6 million*. One of the more unusual symptoms was patients' complaints of sudden loss of smell and/or taste, a symptom that has become more apparent as the virus mutated into different variants. Anosmia and ageusia, the loss of smell and taste, respectively, seem to be transient for some individuals, but for others persists even after recovery from the infection. Causes for COVID‐19‐associated chemosensory loss have undergone several hypotheses. These include non‐functional or destroyed olfactory neurons and gustatory receptors or of their supporting cells, disruption of the signaling protein Neuropilin‐1, and disruption in the interaction with semaphorins, key molecules in the gustatory and olfactory axon guidance. The current paper will review these hypotheses and chart out potential therapeutic avenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to investigate the long‐term prevalence of taste disorder (TD) and olfactory disorder (OD) and associated risk factors in the non‐hospitalized southeastern Brazil population of COVID‐19 patients. Methods: This cross‐sectional open survey evaluated possible long‐term OD and TD in non‐hospitalized patients who had been diagnosed with COVID‐19 for more than 30 days, through an online self‐report questionnaire. Demographic data, comorbidities, symptoms, and the intensity of OD and TD at the time of diagnosis and at the time of completing the questionnaire were evaluated. Results: Three hundred five responses were included. The reported prevalence of OD and TD was 72.9% and 67.4%, respectively, in the moment of diagnosis; after a mean follow‐up period of 179 days, 45% and 50% still had some degree of the symptoms. There was a positive correlation between age and the high prevalence of OD (p = 0.02). However, there was no correlation between age and TD (p = 0.961) and weight in relation to OD/TD (p = 0.500 and p = 0.636, respectively). Conclusion: This study observed a high long‐term prevalence of OD and TD associated with COVID‐19, with a low recovery rate during the study period. There was a positive association between older participants and the prevalence of OD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which evaluated the presence of taste dysfunction and the influence that predisposing factors have on subjects with gustatory impairment, with particular regard to those positive for SARS-CoV-2. Topics include evaluation of gustatory function, taste dysfunction according to SARS-CoV-2 status and differences between predisposing factors, and finding on the frequency of taste disturbances according to the results of the analysis.

The article presents a study which investigated the prevalence of hypogeusia and hyposmia comparing COVID-19 and other respiratory syndromes (RS), through a cross-sectional survey. Topics discussed include characteristics of the patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and other respiratory syndromes, link of smell and taste impairments to a broad range of viral respiratory infections, and structural changes in oral cavity of patients with COVID-19.

The article presents a study which estimated the prevalence of dysgeusia and anosmia in studies that assessed the long-term effects of COVID-19. Topics include an analysis of whether there is a correlation between the number of days after the diagnosis of COVID and the prevalence of symptoms, study finding on the groups most affected by olfactory and taste disorders, and percentage of patients who recovered from COVID-19 who still have persistent symptoms long-term as anosmia and ageusia.

SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) structure and host tropism have changed over time, and so has the involvement of throat structures. This infodemiological analysis is hence aimed at investigating the evolution of throat symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. We searched Google Trends using the medical search terms "ageusia", "hoarseness", "dysphonia", "pharyngitis" and "laryngitis", setting geographical location to "United States", within the past 5 years. The weekly Google Trends score for these symptoms, which reflects their national Web popularity, was divided in three parts, as "pre-COVID" (July 2017 to February 2020), COVID-19 "pre-Omicron" (March 2020 to November 2021), and COVID-19 "Omicron" (December 2021 to July 2022), and then compared. The volume of searches for ageusia increased in the pre-Omicron period and remained significantly higher also during Omicron prevalence, though a significant decrease (∼30%) occurred with Omicron lineages compared to previous strains. The Google searches for hoarseness and dysphonia were relatively similar between the pre-COVID and pre-Omicron periods, but then significantly increased during Omicron predominance. The Google searches for pharyngitis and laryngitis decreased in the pre-Omicron period, but then considerably increased following Omicron emergence. Omicron endemic spread could be significantly and independently predicted by the volume of searches for pharyngitis, laryngitis and hoarseness. The epidemiological burden of throat symptoms has considerably changed after Omicron emergence, with a lower likelihood of developing chemosensory dysfunctions and enhanced risk of throat involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]