San Diego, Apr 15: Several people lost their sense of smell or taste weeks ago globally and are still waiting for it to come back and now, researchers have identified an association between sensory loss and novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection, indicating that loss of smell and taste may be considered as early symptoms of the deadly disease.
Interestingly, the study also found that persons who reported experiencing a sore throat more often tested negative for COVID-19.
The team from University of California-San Diego found high prevalence and unique presentation of certain sensory impairments in patients positive with COVID-19.
Of those who reported a loss of smell and taste, the loss was typically profound, not mild.
"Based on our study, if you have smell and taste loss, you are more than 10 times more likely to have COVID-19 infection than other causes of infection. The most common first sign of a COVID-19 infection remains fever, but fatigue and loss of smell and taste follow as other very common initial symptoms," explained study researcher Carol Yan from UC San Diego.
"We know COVID-19 is an extremely contagious virus. This study supports the need to be aware of smell and taste loss as early signs of COVID-19," Yan added.
For the findings, published in the journal International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, the research team surveyed 1,480 patients with flu-like symptoms and concerns regarding potential COVID-19 infection who underwent testing at UC San Diego Health from March 3 through March 29, 2020.
Within that total, 102 patients tested positive for the virus and 1,378 tested negatives. The study included responses from 59 COVID-19-positive patients and 203 COVID-19-negative patients.
Encouragingly, the rate of recovery of smell and taste was high and occurred usually within two to four weeks of infection.
"Our study not only showed that the high incidence of smell and taste is specific to COVID-19 infection but we fortunately also found that for the majority of people sensory recovery was generally rapid," said Yan.
"Among the COVID-19 patients with smell loss, more than 70 per cent had reported improvement of smell at the time of the survey and of those who hadn't reported improvement, many had only been diagnosed recently," she added.
Sensory return typically matched the timing of disease recovery.
In an effort to decrease the risk of virus transmission, UC San Diego Health now includes loss of smell and taste as a screening requirement for visitors and staff, as well as a marker for testing patients who may be positive for the virus.
"It is our hope that with these findings other institutions will follow suit and not only list smell and taste loss as a symptom of COVID-19, but use it as a screening measure for the virus across the world," Yan said.
Comments
With this 10 crores what are they supposed to do ? It does not work out to them.
WHAT is wrong when our ELECTED LEADERS celebrate the DIAMOND JUBILEE OF VIDHANASOUHDA..KARNATAKA PRIDE.... people /kanadigas must be PROUD of...as any one ask when Political leaders visit and crores are spent...what will be the cost ot HUGE PARTY of 75000 bike riding from all over KARANTAKA..do you think bike owners will participate without benefit.... what kind of TRAFFIC MESS WILL BE THIS... is this not MONEY... We people must consider celebration of any KARNATAKA PRIDE with out leaders...
Whether the Secretariat has heeded to CM's advice? and "..... With this, the plan to gift expensive items to the lawmakers during the celebrations has been dropped." Is it only for the time being and will they get the gifts later on in their office in a "Low Key affair" where nobody will come to know.
Aiyoo swami. Navu irode heege. Foriegn tripu (to study foriegn culture and system and implement in Karnataka), Vidhan Souda habba, seperate religion for lingayats, seperate flag for Karnataka etc etc. All these things must be done by CM and MLA's only. Otherwise the public will get angry that they have voted for non-performers. No other Govt has even thought about this. Great. Really great. Before next election, Siddu, please plan another foriegn trip along with your ministers and MLA's to study the road in developed countries. Ram Linga, neenu England di ge hogi, Scotland Yard police salehe togoli Gouri Lankesh killers na hege hidiyodu anta. Good chance to make a foriegn trip. Nobody will question. Book now. Family noo karkondu hogi. You cannot eat the food there. Your wife can make Jola da rotti with olle mosaru. Bombatu trip. If you have some other plan, then do not take your wife. Alli bread sigute.
Udaya Kumar chennagi helidiri. Innondu maatu. All these at the taxpayers money. Lancha hodiyodu allade kittu kondu tinnodu. Naachike illa ivarige.
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