Quantitative assessment of olfactory dysfunction accurately detects asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

COVID-19 threatens the global community because a large fraction of infected people are asymptomatic, yet can effectively transmit SARS-CoV-2. Finding and isolating these silent carriers is a crucial step in confining the spread of the disease. A sudden loss of the sense of smell has been self-reported by COVID-19 patients across different countries, consistent with expression of the molecular factors mediating SARS-CoV-2 uptake into human olfactory epithelial supporting cells. However, precise quantification of olfactory loss in asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers is missing to date.

Methods

To quantify olfactory functions in asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, we designed an olfactory-action meter that determines detectability indices at different odor concentrations and

SUBMITTER: Bhattacharjee AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7562772 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature