COVID-19 pandemic is affecting millions of people all across the globe. Along with other clinical features, anosmia and dysgeusia are important symptoms being seen. This study evaluates the prevalence of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in patients with SARS CoV-2 infection in a tertiary care centre and the severity and duration of altered taste and smell sensation in COVID positive patients. A total number of 167 patients that had tested positive for COVID 19 KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore hospital in the study period of 3 months were assessed for presence and severity of olfactory and gustatory sensations. The prevalence of alteration of sense in COVID 19 patients in our tertiary care centre was found to be 62.87% and alteration of taste was 58.68%. This study shows that smell and taste loss has a high prevalence in patients of COVID 19 and health care workers should keep high degree of suspicion for COVID 19 when patients present with these symptoms. The early identification may help to reduce the risk of spread.

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Chronic otitis media is a widespread disease of developing countries, especially of the lower socio-economic group. Medical cost in hospitals associated with tympanoplasty for treating CSOM is very high. Our study investigates the efficacy of epidermal growth factor along with chemical cautery in healing of chronic tympanic membrane perforation on an outpatient department (OPD) basis. Hence providing a cheaper and cost effective treatment alternative to the patients.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A total number of 70 patients with signs of COM attending ENT OPD were selected. The patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups each with a sample size of 35. Otoendoscopy and pure tone audiometry was performed. Group A was treated with EGF with chemical cautery and group B was treated with only chemical cautery. Both groups were followed up after 15 days, one month and second month of the procedure in ENT outpatient clinic.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The success rate of these non-healing perforation was found to be significantly higher in group A (29 [82.86%]) compared with group B (17 [65.71%]) with P value of 0.0070*.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study shows a statistically significant result with topical application of epidermal growth factor in small to medium non-healing central tympanic membrane perforation. Due to the promising result of epidermal growth factor, it could be considered as office myringoplasty.  </p>