Characteristic Temporary Loss of Taste and Olfactory Senses in SARS-CoV-2-positive-Individuals with Mild Symptoms

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 infection has been characterized as an upper and lower respiratory tract infection with symptoms ranging from sore throat, cough, headache, and fatigue to a severe respiratory syndrome that requires intensive care [1-7]. Although a lower death rate has been recorded for SARS-CoV-2 in comparison to other recent coronavirus outbreaks, such as MERS or SARS, a compromised respiratory status on admission has been associated with fatal outcomes. Among the >1200 SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals in Germany to date, many of the diagnosed persons show mild symptoms to no clinical signs of infection. Here we describe the onset and characteristics of symptoms in a cluster outbreak after a carnival celebration in a small town in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia currently contributing 43% of the total number of infected individuals in Germany to date [8]. Among the nearly 500 individuals in domestic quarantine as ordered by the Local Health Authority at that time, we interviewed 41 randomly selected individuals with qPCR confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Inclusion criteria for the survey participation were: residents, positive for SARS-CoV-2 in pharyngeal swabs, ≥18 years of age, and confirmed informed consent. Median age was 40 years (IQR: 31-53, range: 18-82) and 51% were female. All persons examined had attended a carnival festivity also attended by the SARS-CoV-2positive index patient. All persons who attended this carnival festivity were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by the local health authorities 10 days later. Among survey participants, onset of symptoms began 12 days (IQR: 11-13) after probable infection and a median of 6 distinct symptoms (IQR: 4-8) were described.

Outpatient Management of Oligosymptomatic Patients with Respiratory Infection in the Era of SARS-CoV-2. Experience from Rural German General Practitioners 

“…Schmithausen et al found that early temporary loss of taste and smell occurred in 68% of oligosymptomatic patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after a cluster outbreak at a carnival celebration in North Rhine Westphalia, Germany, less than 100km away from our o ces (29). Similary to our study (80%), the most common symptom was a dry, non-productive cough (73%).…”

“…A more focused approach of smear-taking has been used since the advent of clustered outbreaks (29) with a large amount of positives alongside a very low number of positives, such as in our area. The debate on the idealsmear strategy is ongoing.…”

Outpatient Management of Oligosymptomatic Patients with Respiratory Infection in the Era of SARS-CoV-2. Experience from Rural German General Practitioners

“…Schmithausen et al found that early temporary loss of taste and smell occurred in 68% of oligosymptomatic patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after a cluster outbreak at a carnival celebration in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, less than 100km away from our o ces (29). Similar to our study (80%), the most common symptom was a dry, non-productive cough (73%).…”

“…A more focused approach of smear-taking has been used since the advent of clustered outbreaks (29), with a large number of positive tests along with a very low number of positive tests, such as in our area. The debate on the ideal smear strategy is ongoing.…”

On the usefulness of point-of-care antibody tests for SARS-CoV-2 in community screening settings

“…Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a particularly complex pathogen because especially mild forms of the disease are often non-specific or asymptomatic, 2 and therefore, symptom-based risk management is not possible.…”