Validation of a self-administered olfactory and gustatory test for the remotely evaluation of COVID-19 patients in home quarantine.

Vaira, Luigi Angelo; Salzano, Giovanni; Petrocelli, Marzia; Deiana, Giovanna; Salzano, Francesco Antonio; De Riu, Giacomo · Head Neck · 2020

other · Level V

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Abstract

Chemosensitive disorders are very frequent in the early stages of COVID-19 and in paucisymptomatic cases. These patients are typically placed in home quarantine. This study has the aim of validating a new olfactory and gustatory objective evaluation test in these patients. Thirty-three home-quarantined COVID-19 patients have undergone a self-administered chemosensitive test the day before the control swab. On this occasion, the patients underwent operator-administered already validated tests. The results were finally compared. The differences between the results of the two tests were not significant for both the olfaction (P =.201) and the taste (P =.180). The olfactory and gustatory evaluation by self-administered test can be considered a valid tool, fundamental for obtaining objective qualitative and quantitative data on the extent of chemosensitive disorders in home-quarantined COVID-19 patients.

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