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Anosmia in the first coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in Europe: functional recovery after eight months

Part of: JLO Coronavirus Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2021

M Capelli  and
P Gatti
M Capelli*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Columbus Clinic Center, Milan, Italy
P Gatti
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Columbus Clinic Center, Milan, Italy
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Marco Capelli, Department of Otolaryngology, Columbus Clinic Center, Via Michelangelo Buonarroti, 48, 20145Milan, Italy E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 is a formidable virus, responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 and endowed with marked neurotropism. The damage it causes to the nervous system is manifold. The main neurological manifestation is anosmia. Olfactory damage is often transient, but there are no data reflecting an observational period of several months.

Objective

This study evaluated the trend of anosmia in patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 in the eight months following diagnosis.

Methods

Fifty-five subjects who presented with symptoms suggestive of coronavirus disease 2019 and who developed anosmia, between the end of February and the beginning of March 2020, were investigated. The patients were interviewed after eight months to determine functional recovery and assess the degree of recovery.

Results

Ninety-one per cent of the population reported olfactory recovery and, of these, 53 per cent had total recovery after eight months. Females and younger age groups seem slightly advantaged in functional recovery. The elderly population appears to have excellent prospects for full functional recovery.

Conclusion

Anosmia represents a frequent neurological manifestation during coronavirus disease 2019. Fortunately, it is transient in most cases, and only a small percentage of patients affected by it report long-term functional deficits.

Keywords

AnosmiaSARS-CoVSmellOlfactionEpidemicsOutbreaks
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 135 , Issue 3 , March 2021 , pp. 224 - 228
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Dr M Capelli takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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