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Review
. 2020 Nov-Dec;71(6):379-385.
doi: 10.1016/j.otorri.2020.04.003. Epub 2020 May 11.

[Olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19, a review of the evidence and implications for pandemic management]

[Article in Spanish]
Joan Lop Gros  1 , Mar Iglesias Coma  1 , Mónica González Farré  1 , Consol Serra Pujadas  2
Affiliations
Review

[Olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19, a review of the evidence and implications for pandemic management]

[Article in Spanish]
Joan Lop Gros et al. Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp. 2020 Nov-Dec.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

There is debate as to whether olfactory dysfunction should be considered a symptom of COVID-19 infection. We undertook a systematic literature review of the articles indexed in PubMed on olfactory disorders in viral respiratory tract conditions, with special emphasis on COVID-19. The main objective was to find evidence of clinical interest to support the relationship between anosmia and COVID-19. Olfactory disorders in upper respiratory tract infections are frequent, most caused by obstruction due to oedema of the nasal mucosa. Occasionally, post-viral sensorineural olfactory dysfunction occurs, with a variable prognosis. The evidence on anosmia in COVID-19 patients is extremely limited, corresponding to a level 5 or D of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. According to the available evidence, it seems reasonable to apply isolation, hygiene and social distancing measures in patients with recent olfactory disorders as the only symptom, although the usefulness of diagnostic tests for this type of patient should be studied.

Existe debate sobre si las alteraciones en el olfato deberían considerarse un síntoma de la COVID-19. Se realizó una revisión sistemática bibliográfica de los artículos indexados en PubMed sobre alteraciones del olfato en cuadros virales de vías respiratorias, con especial énfasis en la COVID-19. El objetivo principal fue encontrar evidencia de interés clínico que apoye la relación entre ansomia y COVID-19. Las alteraciones del olfato en procesos infecciosos de vías altas son frecuentes y en su mayoría responden a una causa obstructiva por edema de la mucosa nasal. Ocasionalmente aparece una disfunción olfatoria posviral de tipo neurosensorial, de pronóstico variable. La evidencia acerca de la anosmia en pacientes con COVID-19 es muy limitada, correspondiente a un grado 5 o D del Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. De acuerdo con la evidencia disponible, parece razonable aplicar medidas de aislamiento, higiene y distanciamiento social a los pacientes con alteraciones del olfato de reciente aparición como único síntoma, aunque se debería estudiar la utilidad de la realización de pruebas diagnósticas a este tipo de sujetos.

Keywords: Anosmia; COVID 19; Post-viral olfactory dysfunction.

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References

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