ENT manifestation in COVID-19 patients

Auris Nasus Larynx. 2020 Aug;47(4):559-564. doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2020.06.003. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Abstract

Objective: to detect, analyze and discuss the different ear nose throat (ENT) manifestations those were reported in COVID19 positive patients in the reviewed and published literatures.

Methods: We performed a search in the PubMed databases, Web of Science, LILACS, MEDLINE, SciELO, and Cochrane Library using the keywords; COVID-19, Novel coronavirus, corona, 2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV-2, ENT, ear, nose, throat, otorhinolaryngology, ORL, pharynx, ORL, smell, larynx, different ENT related symptoms. We reviewed published and peer reviewed studies that reported the ENT manifestations in COVID-19 laboratory-confirmed positive patients.

Results: within the included 1773 COVID-19 laboratory-confirmed positive patients, the most common ENT manifestations of COVID-19 were sore throat (11.3%) and headache (10.7%). While the other reported ENT manifestations were pharyngeal erythema (5.3%), nasal congestion (4.1%), runny nose or rhinorrhea (2.1%), upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) (1.9%), and tonsil enlargement (1.3%).

Conclusion: ENT manifestations for COVID-19 are not common as fever and cough. But, a universal questionnaire using well-defined COVID-19 manifestations is needed to make the COVID-19 data precisely defined, complete and homogenous.

Keywords: COVID-19; ENT; corona virus; nasal manifestation; nose; otorhinolaryngology; pharynx.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenoids
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / physiopathology*
  • Cough / physiopathology
  • Diarrhea / physiopathology
  • Dyspnea / physiopathology
  • Erythema / physiopathology
  • Fatigue / physiopathology
  • Fever / physiopathology
  • Headache / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Myalgia / physiopathology
  • Nasal Obstruction / physiopathology
  • Olfaction Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / physiopathology
  • Palatine Tonsil
  • Pandemics
  • Pharyngitis / physiopathology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / physiopathology*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / physiopathology
  • SARS-CoV-2