Sudden olfactory loss as an early marker of COVID-19: a nationwide Italian survey

• DOI: 10.1007/s00405-020-06252-9
• Publication Date: 2020-08-04T09:03:09Z
• Authors: Lucrezia Spadera; Pasquale Viola; Davide Pisani; Alfonso Scarpa; Donatella Malanga; Gerardo Sorrentino; Enrico Madini; Carla Laria; Teodoro Aragona; Gianluca Leopardi; Giandomenico Magg...; Marco Ciriolo; Luigi Boccuto; Raffaella Pizzolato; Ludovico Abenavoli; Claudia Cassandro; Massimo Ralli; Ettore Cassandro; Giuseppe Chiarella
• Keywords: 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

The presence of many asymptomatic COVID-19 cases may increase the risks disease dissemination, mainly for physicians. There are numerous reports on frequent findings sudden anosmia or hyposmia, before at same time typical symptoms onset. aim this study was to verify association olfactory impairment and COVID-19, providing a basis subsequent research in field clinical heterogeneity. We developed 15-item online questionnaire "Sudden Olfactory Loss (SOL) COVID-19" that administered during March 2020 Italian general practitioners registered social media group. One hundred eighty responses were received. SOL identified as significant sign infection patients, aged between 30 40 years, even absence other symptoms. present an initial symptom 46.7% subjects, 16.7%, it only symptom. Among confirmed cases, occurred 19.2% patients. could represent possible early otherwise subjects. Subjects affected by should be considered potential cases. 4.