Analysis of Ear, Nose and Throat Manifestations in COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has dramatically spread all over the world, crossing the borders of all countries. It is presented mainly by lower respiratory tract symptoms such as fever, cough, dyspnea, and chest tightness. However, COVID-19 causes different upper respiratory tract-related symptoms including nasal congestion, sore throat, and olfactory dysfunction. Objective To discuss different ear, nose and throat (ENT) manifestations in COVID-19-positive patients and their relation to other manifestations and to the severity of COVID-19. Methods We detected ENT manifestations in polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed positive COVID-19 patients at Zagazig Isolation Hospitals (Zagazig University hospitals, Zagazig Chest hospital, Al-Ahrar hospital, and Zagazig Fever hospital) with proportional allocation in the period from April 15 to June 15, 2020. All patients were subjected to full history taking and COVID-19 was categorized into 4 classes of severity after all patients underwent computed tomography (CT) of the chest. Afterwards, the collected data was analyzed and compared. Results Among the included 120 COVID-19 patients, the most frequent reported ENT manifestations were; sore throat (30%), nasal congestion (28.3%), nasal obstruction (26.7%), sneezing (26.6%), headache (25%), smell and taste dysfunction (25%), rhinorrhea (20%), upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) (15%), and tonsil enlargement (10%). The most common non-ENT manifestations were fever (88.3%), cough (63.3%), and dyspnea (45%). Conclusion Fever and cough are the dominant symptoms of COVID-19, but ENT manifestations for COVID-19 are common and should be a part of the suspected clinical criteria for COVID-19, particularly if the nasal examination was nonsignificant. The most common symptoms are sore throat, followed by nasal congestion and obstruction, headache, and lastly, olfactory dysfunction.

Study the ENT Manifestations of Covid-19 Patients, Aden, Yemen

“…The relation between anosmia-dysgeusia and sex was statistically significant (p <0.05), while the rest of ENT manifestations were not statistically significant with sex. El-Anwar et al [17] from Egypt reported in their study, that the most frequently ENT manifestations were sore throat in (30%) patients, nasal congestion in (28.3%) patients, nasal obstruction in (26.7%) patients, sneezing in (26.6%) patients, headache in (25%) patients, olfactory and taste dysfunction in (25%) patients, and runny nose or rhinorrhea in (20%) patients. Srivastava et al [18] mentioned that the majority (66.5%) of the cases had sore throat, followed by cases of nasal congestion (54.1%).…”

Differentiating COVID-19 and dengue from other febrile illnesses in co-epidemics: Development and internal validation of COVIDENGUE scores

“…The COVIDENGUE scores were developed using MLR [ 9 ] which is the gold standard method for assessing non-ordered polytomous categorical outcomes [ 27 , 28 ]. Except for active smoking whose protective effect against SARS-CoV-2 infection remains a matter of debate among researchers [ 29 , 30 ], all predictors retained to build the scores had been previously identified as relevant indicators of COVID-19 or dengue or associated with OFIs (especially respiratory infections) [ [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] ] This ensures both the validity of content of this scoring system and the possibility of contrasted predictions. For example, international travel had been identified as a source of COVID-19 during the first pandemic wave [ [36] , [37] , [38] ].…”

Proposal for a Paradigm Shift in Personalized Medicine for Patients with a Maxillary Edentulous Jaw by ENT Specialist and Dentist Cooperation

“…Imaging often indicates air-fluid levels or fluid accumulation ( Figure 5 D). After the possibility of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is ruled out by a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RT-PCR test—because the clinical manifestations of rhinosinusitis are similar to the symptoms of COVID-19 [ 23 ] and patients recover from the illness by conservative ENT treatment—they can still receive a maxillary implant with or without a sinus lift.…”