The aim of this manuscript is to investigate transversally Ear Nose Throat (ENT) symptoms COVID-19 infection correlated and to study the neurotropism and neuroinvasiveness of the virus in the head-neck district through the investigation of the sense of smell, taste, tearing, salivation and hearing. Methods: A total of 50 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection were included in our study. For each patient we evaluated the short version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-Negative Statements (sQOD-NS), the Summated Xerostomia Inventory-Dutch Version (SXI-DV), The Standardized Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED), Schirmer test I, the Hearing Handicap Inventory For Adults (HHIA) and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). All the tests we carried out were performed during the active phase of the symptomatology from COVID-19 (Condition A) and 15 after SARS-COV-2 RT-PCR test negative (Condition B). Results: A total of 46 patients (92%) had olfactory dysfunction related to the infection. The 70% of patients reported gustatory disorders. Cough, fever, headache and asthenia were the most prevalent symptoms. There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0,001) in sQOD-NS, SXI-DV, SPEED, Schirmer test, HHIA and THI between Condition A and Condition B. Conclusions: In our population there was an alteration of the sense of taste, of the sense of smell, dry eyes and of the oral cavity and an auditory discomfort, symptoms probably linked to the neurotropism of the virus. Furthermore, anosmia, dysgeusia and xerostomia are early symptoms of COVID-19, which can be exploited for an early quarantine and a limitation of viral contagion. Previous outbreaks of coronaviruses (CoVs) include the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV which have been previously characterized as agents with a great public health impact. In particular, SARS-CoV-2 is the seventh member of the family of coronaviruses, which is the beta-CoV with over 70% similarity in genetic sequence to SARS-nCoV. It seems that SARS-CoV-2 and MERS CoV have a zoonotic reservoir nature, bats and snakes in particular [1-5]. The common general symptoms of the infection are fever, dry, cough, sputum production, myalgia, arthralgia, headache, diarrhea, dyspnea and fatigue, similar to rhinoviruses, influenza viruses, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial viruses, adenoviruses and enteroviruses. In more severe cases,
Pneumoparotid is a rare condition of parotid swelling. The presence of the air in gland parenchyma is caused by an incompetent Stensen’s duct with high pressure may cause the acini’s rupture. We reviewed 49 manuscripts, from 1987 to today, that enrolled a total of 54 patients with pneumoparotid. Our review evaluated the following evaluation parameters: gender, age, etiology, clinical presentation, treatment, days of resolution after diagnosis, relapse and complications. The most frequent etiology is self-induction by swelling the cheeks (53.7%). This cause mainly involves children (74%), for conflicts with parents, excuses for not going to school, nervous tics or adults (16%) with psychiatric disorders. Iatrogenic causes are also frequent (16.6%), for dental treatments (55.5%) or use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) (33.4%). Medical therapy is the most practiced (53.7%), in most cases it is combined with behavioral therapy (25.9%) or psychotherapy (25.9%). Surgery is rarely used (9.2%) as a definitive solution through parotidectomy (50%) or ligation of the duct (50%). The most common complication is subcutaneous emphysema (24.1%), sometimes associated with pneumomediastinum (5.5%). Careful treatment and management are necessary to ensure the resolution of the pathology and counteract the onset of complications.
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