March 23, 2020
According to the American Board for Ear, Nose & Throat physicians, anecdotal evidence is rapidly accumulating from sites around the world that loss of, or decrease of sense of smell and taste are significant symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection. Loss of sense of smell, in particular, has been seen in patients ultimately testing positive for the coronavirus with no other symptoms. The board has proposed that these symptoms be added to the list of screening tools for possible COVID-19 infection. Anosmia, hyposmia, and dysgeusia in the absence of other respiratory disease such as allergic rhinitis, acute rhinosinusitis, or chronic rhinosinusitis should alert physicians to the possibility of COVID-19 infection and warrant serious consideration for self-isolation and testing of these individuals.
SOURCE: ENTNET.ORG