Airborne aerosol olfactory deposition contributes to anosmia in COVID-19.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Olfactory dysfunction (OD) affects a majority of COVID-19 patients, is atypical in duration and recovery, and is associated with focal opacification and inflammation of the olfactory epithelium. Given recent increased emphasis on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the purpose of the present study was to experimentally characterize aerosol dispersion within olfactory epithelium (OE) and respiratory epithelium (RE) in human subjects, to determine if small (sub 5μm) airborne aerosols selectively deposit in the OE.

Methods

Healthy adult volunteers inhaled fluorescein-labeled nebulized 0.5-5μm airborne aerosol or atomized larger aerosolized droplets (30-100μm). Particulate deposition in the OE and RE was assessed by blue-light filter modified rigid endoscopic evalu

SUBMITTER: Workman AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7864464 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature