Purpose The ongoing coronavirus disease 19 pandemic is spreading at an alarming rate across the globe. Sudden onset loss of smell and/or taste has been increasingly reported as a symptom of COVID-19. However, prevalence of these symptoms, and its severity varies widely between studies, with little data on its duration and recovery rate. Since this significantly impacts the quality of life of patients, there is a need for a study to provide insight into the loss of smell or taste in terms of its correlation with other upper respiratory tract symptoms, natural history and resolution rates. Methods This cross-sectional study included 718 mild to moderately symptomatic adult patients (≥ 18 years), admitted consecutively to Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Odisha, India between June 25 and July 24, 2020, who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal and throat swabs. Prevalence, severity, duration and factors associated with altered smell or taste sensation, and their follow-up were recorded. Results Of the 718 patients included in the study at baseline [563 (78%) men; median age 34 years], 101 (14%) patients experienced either altered smell or taste, with 52 (7%) experiencing both altered smell and taste. Seventy-seven (10.7%) patients had altered smell and 76 patients had altered taste (10.5%). Of these, 71 (92%) and 73 (96%) regained their sense of smell and taste, respectively, by 14 days after their swab tested positive. Presence of fever (OR = 5.4, 95% CI = 2.7-10.6, p < 0.001), cough (OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.2-4.2, p = 0.009) and nasal obstruction (OR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.4-6.7, p = 0.006) were independently associated with increased likelihood of experiencing both altered taste and smell in multivariable models. ConclusionThe prevalence of altered smell and taste in Indians was much lower compared to Europeans and similar to East Asians. Majority regained these senses by 2 weeks. Identification of these symptoms can help in early detection of the disease in suspected individuals.

The global outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2/2019-nCoV) has put forth a serious threat to the international public health and has ruined the global economy. Till date, no drugs have been approved for Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19), although use of some drugs in trial phase has been attempted. The drugs being used for management of COVID-19 disease include chloroquine (CQ), hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), and remdesivir. In this article, we have aimed to review existing literature and mechanism by which CQ and HCQ have an effect on COVID-19, most importantly by interfering with autophagy, lysosomal activity, receptor binding and membrane fusion. We have systematically searched the PubMed database upto April, 2020 and analysed all the articles published on CQ, HCQ and COVID-19. The available data provides insights into the immunomodulatory potency of HCQ, along with the molecular mechanism of action of the drug on the SARS-CoV-2.

Objective: The purpose of our case series is to highlight the role of coblation in endoscopic JNA excision in terms of blood loss, duration of surgery and hospital stay.

ObjectiveTo evaluate an endoscopic approach in the management of glomus tumor, and also to investigate and evaluate its appropriateness and feasibility.MethodsGlomus tumors, also known as paragangliomas, are benign primary tumors of the middle ear. The advent of endoscopic ear surgery has provided new dimensions to the management of this highly vascular tumor. Retrospective analysis of six patients of glomus tympanicum, operated between July 2014 and June 2019, with modified Fisch classification Type A and B1, who were managed by a retroauricular transcanal endoscopic approach. Preoperative and postoperative analysis was done for these patients.ResultsThe chief complaint was pulsatile tinnitus, which disappeared in five cases and reduced in severity in one of them. Hearing was improved with reduction in air‐bone gap in all the cases. No major complications or recurrence were observed in any of the patients after 12 months of follow‐up.ConclusionThis endoscopic approach serves as a safe and reliable technique for tumor removal. It thus provides postoperative comfort for most of the patients.