Anosmia in COVID-19 Patients: A Study in a Tertiary Care Level Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47648/zhswmcj.2022.v0401.05

Md Fakhrul Alam1 , Rajee Mahmud Talukder2 , Shams Ibne Maksud3 , Atiur Rahman4

Abstract

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are known to cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and features of anosmia in COVID-19 patients. We conducted a retrospective observational study in Shaheed Monsur Ali Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh in the Department of Medicine and Z H Shikder Women’s Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh in the Department of ENT from June 2020 to December 2020.we enrolled all adult patients (>18 years) with confirmed COVID-19 who were examined at the infectious disease consultation or hospitalized in the hospital and who reported anosmia. Pregnant women, children (< 18 years), and patients with dementia (who cannot report functional symptoms) were excluded. We stopped the study follow-up on December 2020.Forty-three of 124 patients (34.55%) with confirmed COVID-19 reported anosmia and were included in this study. Among these 43 patients, the mean age was 47 (16) years and 27 (62.79%) were females and male 16(37. 21%).More than a third of our patients (37.53%, n = 17) were hospitalized, including two patients (4.65%) in the intensive care unit (ICU) and Home Stay Medication (23.26%, n=10). Four patients (7%) had oxygen saturation < 90% at admission, 12 patients (27.91%) needed oxygen therapy during hospitalization, and two patients (4.65%) died. COVID-19-related anosmia is a new description in the medical literature. Half of the patients with COVID-19 present with anosmia. Anosmia is associated with dysgeusia in more than 44.19% of cases. The outcome seems favorable in less than 28 days.

Keywords: Anosmia, COVID-19 Patients.


  1. Assistant Professor, Department of ENT

    Z H Sikder Women’s Medical College, Dhaka

  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine

    Shaheed Monsur Ali Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka

  3. Assistant professor, Department of Paediatrics

    Shaheed Monsur Ali Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka

  4. Assistant Professor, Department of ENT

    Shaheed Monsur Ali Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka


Volume 4, Number 1, January 2022
Page: 22-26