The importance of early detection of ent symptoms in mild-to-moderate covid-19

Objectives. Patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may present with a wide range of symptoms. In this paper, a detailed characterisation of mild-to-moderate ear, nose nd throat (ENT) symptoms is presented with the aim of recognising the disease early to help reduce further spread and progression. Methods. A total of 230 cases testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and 134 negative controls were recruited for a case-control analysis. Symptoms were analysed using the Acute Respiratory Tract Infections Questionnaire, while other symptoms were investigated by ad hoc questions. Results. Among the study samples (n = 364), 149 were males and 215 were females with age ranging from 20 to 89 years (mean 52.3). Four main groups of symptoms were obtained: influenza-like symptoms, ENT-symptoms, breathing issues and asthenia-related symptoms, representing 72%, 69%, 64% and 53% of overall referred clinical manifestations, respectively. ENT symptoms, breathing issues and influenza-like symptoms were associated with positivity to SARS-CoV-2, whereas asthenia-related symptoms did not show a significant association with SARS-CoV-2 infection after controlling for other symptoms, comorbidities and demographic characteristics. Conclusions. ENT symptoms are equally represented with influenza-like ones as presenting symptoms of COVID-19. Patients with ENT symptoms should be investigated for early identification and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 spread

Is oro/nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 detection a safe procedure? Complications observed among a case series of 4876 consecutive swabs

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the Severe-Acute-Respiratory-Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has widely spread throughout the world since December 2019 . One of the main symptoms of COVID-19 is alteration of smell or taste, suggesting that high viral load can be found in the nose . CDC guidelines have recommended that diagnostic swabs should be performed in specific areas of the respiratory tract such as the nasopharynx, oropharynx, nasal turbinate, and anterior nares. Nasal and nasopharyngeal swabbing requires the introduction of a foreign body into a delicate area that can result in harm to the patient. In this paper we present the complications encountered in a series of health workers who underwent oro/nasopharyngeal swab for detection of SARS-CoV-2