Valeria Dell’Era, MD (1), Filippo Farri, MD (1), Giacomo Garzaro, MD (2), Miriam Gatto, MD (3), Paolo Aluffi Valletti, MD (1), Massimiliano Garzaro, MD (1)

Affiliation

1 - ENT Division, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy

2 – Department of Public Health and Pediatrics – University of Turin

3 - Division of Pediatrics, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy

Acknowledgment

All authors equal contribute to this paper.

Authors declare NO  conflicts of interest, including relevant financial interests, activities, relationships, and affiliations.

Authors declare NO financial and material support for the research.

We would like to thank you Dr. Fabio Carfagna for advice on the Manuscript.

Corresponding Author

Valeria Dell’Era

ENT Division, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy

Phone +3903213733403

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2171-4120

Running title: COVID-19 and smell

Key words: COVID-19, smell, taste, coronavirus, SARS – CoV-2 symptoms

ABSTRACT

Background: As reported by increasing literature, a significant number of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection developed smell/taste disorders.

Aim of this study is to determine prevalence and severity of these symptoms among laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 patients. Secondary objective is to determine their onset/recovery time.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 10th to March 30th 2020 at Novara University Hospital during the COVID-19 Italian outbreak. The 355 enrolled patients answered a questionnaire at 14^th (or more) days after proven infection.

Results: The overall population prevalence of both smell/taste or one of the two disorders was 70%. They were first symptoms in 31 (8,7%) patients.

Most patients reported a complete loss that in half of the cases (49.5%) was fully recovered after 14 days, with a median recovery time of 10 days.

Conclusion: This study confirms high prevalence of smell/taste disorders in COVID-19 infection with self-recovery for half cases after about two weeks.

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