The onset of olfactory and taste disorders, alone or in association with other unusual symptoms such as lack of appetite and even unusual headache, seems to be much more frequent than the appearance of upper respiratory tract symptoms in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection (especially in the female sex), develops early in the course of the disease (whilst anosmia and dysgeusia are usually reported postinfection in patients with common cold or influenza), and shall not be overlooked or underestimated. The onset of these disturbances should always persuade patients to seek clinical advice and, especially, should be followed-up by molecular biology testing aimed at carrying out an accurate and timely diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which will enable early isolation of infected subjects and their more appropriate clinical management. Finally, consideration shall be given to including anosmia, dysgeusia, and lack of appetite within the current validated protocols for case definition and quarantine.
Diagnostic and clinical significance of “atypical” symptoms in coronavirus disease 2019
Lippi, Giuseppe
;Mattiuzzi, Camilla
2020-01-01
Abstract
The onset of olfactory and taste disorders, alone or in association with other unusual symptoms such as lack of appetite and even unusual headache, seems to be much more frequent than the appearance of upper respiratory tract symptoms in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection (especially in the female sex), develops early in the course of the disease (whilst anosmia and dysgeusia are usually reported postinfection in patients with common cold or influenza), and shall not be overlooked or underestimated. The onset of these disturbances should always persuade patients to seek clinical advice and, especially, should be followed-up by molecular biology testing aimed at carrying out an accurate and timely diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which will enable early isolation of infected subjects and their more appropriate clinical management. Finally, consideration shall be given to including anosmia, dysgeusia, and lack of appetite within the current validated protocols for case definition and quarantine.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.