Incidence and recovery of chemosensitive dysfunction in covid-19 positive patients

Abstract Background: the objective of this study is to find the incidence of chemosensitive dysfunction in COVID-19 positive patients and its recovery.We collected the data from Sixty-five patients, all Covid-19 positive, quarantined in hospital between 5.4.2020 and 17.5.2020, by a questionnaire distributed the quarantine ward.Results: Smell dysfunction appeared in (89.23%) with or without other symptoms of COVID-19. (39.66%) had the sense of smell recovered. Taste dysfunction was found in (83.08%) patients with other COVID-19 symptoms. only (29.63%) of them recovered. The recovery took 1-3 weeks, most cases within 1 week or less. As the only symptom before COVID-19 confirmation, (18.46%) and (15.38%) had smell dysfunction and taste dysfunction respectively. Most of the chemosensitive dysfunction affected the 4th decade of age.Conclusion: Chemosensitive dysfunction is associated with COVID-19, and may be the only presenting symptom of the disease. This makes the ENT doctors in the first line of contact with corona virus. Further objective studies are required to cover chemosensitive dysfunctions, as the recognition of this dysfunction may help the diagnosis of COVID-19, and prevent the spread of this disease.