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.
Sindhu Sooryakumar says she received over 2,000 abusive calls on her mobile allegedly from activists and sympathisers of various pro-Hindutva groups, accusing her of calling Durga a “sex worker” during the show which was a discussion on whether celebrating Mahishashura Jayanthi could be considered an act of treason.
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Suvarna news and Asianet are two faces of one coin partially owned by Rajiv Chandra Shekhar, a Rajya Sabha MP elected by BJP, Karnataka. I was wondered these two channels always in favor of Saffron fugitives, how come the TV Anchor Sindhu got exact 2000 calls from Saffron activists? There were good TV anchors in these two channels left because owners leaning towards Saffrons. Now these two channels are having Astrology, Yoga, and vastu programmes which is not supported by current rulers of Karnataka. Since then these two channels are spreading venom in the society to divide the people.
Government must take note of this and an enquiry to be conducted to find out who are behind this episode.
Come on yaar...freedom of speech and media...why pain now?
Ban RSS...
Respect women....
\Ah! Antinational. Those days, that's what the British called us\", said the frail old man to his grandson as he pointed to the TV anchor."
Right wing fringe at play.
Everything is fair in The name of NATIONALISM.
It is a sheer disgrace to threaten a lady journalist for no fault of hers. She is an employee of a private TV channel and she has done as the call of duty. It is the duty of the society to protect ladies . Everybody worships GODDESS Durga and it is not that TV reporter does not. She may be more religious than the persons who are threatening her. The image of Durga will not be hurt if some sections of the society pass comments against her. Thousands of years culture is preserved by our women only. Keralites are highly educated but not civilized enough to have finer human feelings to respect and love women. It is a blot on their society.
Malayalam TV anchor got threaten calls from Activists of #Sangh #BJP is shame on Democratic India.Who is responsible for this?
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