Age-Dependent Sensory Impairment in COVID-19 Infection and its Correlation with ACE2 Expression

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2020 Sep;39(9):e270-e272. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002817.

Abstract

Among individuals who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019, smell and taste sensations were significantly less impaired among children than among adults, in a stepwise manner. Sensory impairment was correlated with recent data of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 expression in the corresponding age groups. This is the first report to compare sensory impairment in children and adults testing positive for coronavirus disease 2019.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification
  • COVID-19
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coronavirus Infections / enzymology
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / physiopathology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Humans
  • Hypesthesia / enzymology
  • Hypesthesia / physiopathology
  • Hypesthesia / virology*
  • Israel / epidemiology
  • Pandemics
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / biosynthesis*
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism
  • Pneumonia, Viral / enzymology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / physiopathology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Smell / physiology
  • Taste / physiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2