Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland.
Student Society Affiliated with the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland.
Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Apr 29;58(5):623. doi: 10.3390/medicina58050623.
Background and Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new disease entity caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The main symptoms of infection at the onset of the pandemic include dyspnea, cough and high fever. Ear−nose−throat (ENT) symptoms are among the ones presented by patients in the course of infection. The aim of the study was to analyze the frequency of ENT symptoms and to assess their severity and duration in COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: The study included 337 patients who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2, as confirmed by a PCR test. The study participants were >18 years old; the mean age was 43.98 years ± 13.47 SD. The convalescents completed a questionnaire that contained 26 questions, including 9 detailed questions related to ENT symptoms, such as sore throat, vertigo, dizziness, hearing disorders, olfactory disorders, taste disturbance, headache, cough and dyspnea. The severity of symptoms was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: The most reported ENT symptoms were olfactory disorders, which occurred in 72% of patients. The second most frequent symptom was taste disturbance (68%), VAS = 6.79 ± 3.01. Vertigo and dizziness were reported by 34% of respondents (VAS = 4.01 ± 2.01). Tinnitus was observed in 15% of patients, VAS = 3.87 ± 1.98; 14% of the subjects reported hearing impairment (VAS = 3.81 ± 2.37). Conclusions: Symptoms related to the sense of smell, taste and hearing are some of the most common symptoms in the course of COVID-19, which is important in the therapeutic and epidemiological management of patients. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of symptoms, especially those related to the hearing organ, may result in greater permanent damage.
新型冠状病毒病（COVID-19）是由严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2（SARS-CoV-2）引起的新疾病实体。大流行初期感染的主要症状包括呼吸困难、咳嗽和高热。耳鼻喉（ENT）症状是患者在感染过程中出现的症状之一。本研究旨在分析 ENT 症状的频率，并评估 COVID-19 患者 ENT 症状的严重程度和持续时间。
本研究包括 337 名经 PCR 检测确诊感染 SARS-CoV-2 的患者。研究参与者年龄>18 岁，平均年龄为 43.98 岁±13.47 岁。康复者完成了一份包含 26 个问题的问卷，其中 9 个问题与 ENT 症状有关，如咽痛、眩晕、头晕、听力障碍、嗅觉障碍、味觉障碍、头痛、咳嗽和呼吸困难。症状的严重程度使用视觉模拟量表（VAS）进行评估。
报告的 ENT 症状最常见的是嗅觉障碍，72%的患者出现嗅觉障碍。其次是味觉障碍（68%），VAS=6.79±3.01。34%的患者报告眩晕和头晕（VAS=4.01±2.01）。15%的患者出现耳鸣，VAS=3.87±1.98；14%的患者报告听力障碍（VAS=3.81±2.37）。
与嗅觉、味觉和听力相关的症状是 COVID-19 病程中最常见的症状之一，这对于患者的治疗和流行病学管理很重要。症状，尤其是与听觉器官相关的症状的延迟诊断和治疗可能导致更大的永久性损害。
