Clinical Characteristics, Seasonal Variation, Outcome and Disturbance of Taste and Smell in Cases of COVID-19
Abstract
Objective: To assess the various clinical characteristics, seasonal variation, outcome and disturbance of taste
(aguesia) and smell (anosmia) in cases of COVID-19.
Study Design: Cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Department of COVID-19 at Combined Military
Hospital (CMH), Mardan from March 2020 to February 2021.
Materials and Methods: Suspected case of corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) admitted and managed at
CMH Mardan from March 2020 to February 2021 were included in the study and their nasopharyngeal swabs
were sent for COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Only those clinically suspected cases with
positive PCR for COVID-19 were considered as cases of COVID-19. Demographic and clinical data including
gender, age, result of COVID-19 PCR test, symptoms, severity of disease, body system affected with COVID and
outcome, were recorded and entered in SPSS 21. Chi square was used to analyze qualitative variables and T test
was used for quantitative variables. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The reported clinically suspected cases of COVID-19 were 1552. Positive PCR test for COVID-19 were
221 (14.2%) with mean age 37.53 +11.05. The highest number of COVID-19 cases were seen from May 2020 to
July 2020. The positivity ratio of COVID-19 was highest during May 2020 (29.9%). Majority of COVID-19 cases
were asymptomatic (45.7%) and only ten cases died of COVID-19, i.e. mortality was 4.5%.Out of 221 COVID-19
patients, 38.5% cases had olfactory and taste dysfunction.
Conclusion: COVID-19 surged during the months of May to July 2020 followed by a downhill course. Majority of
COVID-19 cases were asymptomatic. Respiratory system of body was most common system involved followed
by gastrointestinal and combination of respiratory and gastrointestinal system. Olfactory and taste dysfunction
(anosmia and aguesia) was seen commonly in COVID-19 patients.
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