Post-COVID-19 Impairment of the Senses of Smell, Taste, Hearing, and Balance.
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ABSTRACT: Background
Various symptoms have been associated with COVID-19, but little is known about the impacts of COVID-19 on the sensory system, risk factors, and the duration of symptoms. This study assesses olfactory, gustatory, hearing, and vestibular systems after COVID-19.Methods
This cross-sectional, single-center study involved 50 patients one to six months after COVID-19 and reports their patient records and the extent, onset, and duration of olfactory, gustatory, hearing, and balance disorders using questionnaires during and after COVID-19. Sensory symptoms were objectively studied using the following clinical tests after COVID-19 Sniffin' Sticks, taste tests, tone/speech audiometry, and video head impulse test.Results
Post-COVID-19-patients were suffering from olfactory and gustatory impairment for up to six months. According to the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, balance disorders were less noticed: Overall, about 40% of the patients during COVID-19 and nearly all patients recovered within six months. After COVID-19, clinical tests revealed that 75% were suffering from hyposomnia/anosmia, and 20% of all patients reported mild hypogeusia for up to six months. Vestibular disorders and hearing impairment rarely/did not occur. Females were significantly more affected by sensory impairments than males.Conclusions
COVID-19 particularly caused olfactory and gustatory impairment; balance disorders were present too; vestibular and auditory symptoms were negligible.
SUBMITTER: Ludwig S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9145380 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Post-COVID-19 Impairment of the Senses of Smell, Taste, Hearing, and Balance.
Ludwig Sonja S Schell Angela A Berkemann Michelle M Jungbauer Frederic F Zaubitzer Lena L Huber Lena L Warken Christian C Held Valentin V Kusnik Alexander A Teufel Andreas A Ebert Matthias M Rotter Nicole N
Viruses 20220420 5
<h4>Background</h4>Various symptoms have been associated with COVID-19, but little is known about the impacts of COVID-19 on the sensory system, risk factors, and the duration of symptoms. This study assesses olfactory, gustatory, hearing, and vestibular systems after COVID-19.<h4>Methods</h4>This cross-sectional, single-center study involved 50 patients one to six months after COVID-19 and reports their patient records and the extent, onset, and duration of olfactory, gustatory, hearing, and ba ...[more]
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