A Comparative Study to Assess Utility of Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunctions in the Diagnosis of Covid-19

COVID-19 is a global pandemic which has infected more than 100 million individuals and having taken a big toll on the world in terms of morbidity and mortality. The disease may progress in some patients from an influenza like illness to sever acute respiratory illness. Diagnosis of COVID 19 by RTPCR supported by radiological evidence, Material: In this prospective observational study, 60 COVID- 19 positive patients and 60 COVID negative/ suspect patients respectively were enrolled from march 2020 to July 2020 in Bowring and lady Curzon Hospital, Bangalore and they were assessed for taste and smell sensations based on SQOD- NS and questions based on smell and taste component of NHNE survey, symptomatic patients were followed up and duration needed for recovery of symptoms was analysed for P value, chi-square value, other relevant blood and radiological investigations were done. Observation: 1. To compare the olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions in COVID suspects and patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection. 2. To assess utility of hypoguesia and hyposmia as discriminant clinical features that might be used for the diagnosis of COVID-19 in patients with ILI. Conclusion: We concluded that patients with COVID 19 positive status had severe spectrum of olfactory dysfunction like anosmia, hyposmia and they will have long recovery time compared to COVID negative /suspect patients .Taste perception was more impaired in COVID positive patients compared to COVID negative /suspects.Covid positive patients had higher sQOD-NS score compared to COVID negative patients and significant associations are seen.