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Observational Study
. 2020 Nov-Dec;35(9):633-638.
doi: 10.1016/j.nrl.2020.07.006. Epub 2020 Jul 28.

Smell and taste disorders in Spanish patients with mild COVID-19

[Article in English, Spanish]
J Barón-Sánchez  1 , C Santiago  2 , G Goizueta-San Martín  3 , R Arca  4 , R Fernández  5
Affiliations
Observational Study

Smell and taste disorders in Spanish patients with mild COVID-19

[Article in English, Spanish]
J Barón-Sánchez et al. Neurologia (Engl Ed). 2020 Nov-Dec.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly throughout the world. Smell and/or taste disorders have emerged as a very frequent symptom as the disease has spread in Europe. Spain is one of the European countries with the highest number of infections.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the clinical progression of smell and taste disorders in Spanish patients with mild COVID-19.

Methods: An online survey was used to conduct a cross-sectional study of patients who presented sudden smell and/or taste disorders during the 2 months of total lockdown due to COVID-19 in Spain.

Results: In our sample, 91.18% of respondents with impaired smell and/or taste and who were able to undergo PCR testing were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Anosmia and ageusia presented in isolation in 6.5% of participants. The remaining 93.5% presented other mild symptoms: headache (51.6%), cough (51.6%), myalgia (45.2%), asthaenia (38.7%), nasal congestion or rhinorrhoea (35.5%), fever (41.9%), low-grade fever (29.0%), odynophagia (25.8%), or diarrhoea (6.5%). The mean duration of anosmia was 8.33 days, with patients subsequently manifesting hyposmia; complete resolution occurred after a mean of 17.79 days. In 22.6% of respondents, olfactory deficits persisted. All participants recovered their sense of taste.

Conclusions: Olfactory and gustatory disorders are prevalent symptoms in mild COVID-19. Most patients do not present associated nasal congestion or rhinorrhoea and a small group of patients present these alterations in isolation.

Introducción: La enfermedad por coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19), se ha expandido con gran rapidez en todo el mundo. Las alteraciones del olfato y/o gusto han emergido como un síntoma muy frecuente a medida que la enfermedad se propagó en Europa. Uno de los países con mayor número de contagios en este continente ha sido España.

Objetivo: Investigar la evolución clínica de los trastornos del olfato y el gusto en la enfermedad leve por COVID-19 en pacientes españoles.

Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal a través de encuesta on‐line, en pacientes que presentaron afección súbita del olfato y/o el gusto, durante los dos meses de confinamiento total por COVID-19 en España.

Resultados: El 91,18% de los sujetos con afectación del olfato y/o el gusto, que tuvieron a acceso a la realización de PCR, fueron positivos para COVID-19. El 6,5% presentó anosmia y ageusia de forma aislada. El 93,5% manifestó otros síntomas leves asociados: cefalea (51,6%), tos (51,6%), mialgias (45,2%), astenia (38,7%), congestión nasal o rinorrea (35,5%), fiebre (41,9%), febrícula (29,0%), odinofagia (25.8%) y diarrea (6,5%). La duración media de la anosmia fue de 8,33 días, posteriormente los pacientes manifestaron hiposmia, con resolución completa en 17,79 días de media. En el 22,6% de los pacientes el déficit olfatorio persistió. Todos los sujetos recuperaron el sentido del gusto.

Conclusiones: Los trastornos olfativos y gustativos son síntomas prevalentes en la infección leve por COVID-19. Gran parte de los pacientes no presentan congestión nasal o rinorrea asociada y un grupo reducido de pacientes los presentan de forma aislada.

Keywords: Ageusia; Anosmia; COVID-19; Hiposmia; Hyposmia; Pandemia; Pandemic.

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