Loss of Smell and Taste are Newly Emerging Symptoms in COVID-19 Patients Necessitating More Insights into their Diagnostic Evaluation

摘要

The COVID-19 pandemic, driven by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has currently infected more than 61 million people and caused the death of more than 1.4 million around the world (November 2020 figures).1 As a result, many countries and health organizations have had to investigate the reasons for the pandemic and improve their health care programs to cope with the emergency while trying to develop an effective vaccine. In February 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) initially reported that the symptoms in patients with COVID-19 included fever, dry cough, sore throat, and muscle weakness. In addition, shortness of breath often indicated severe respiratory illness; however, on 4 May 2020, in a subsequent update of the presenting symptoms, the WHO indicated that loss of smell or taste could be a warning symptom for COVID-19 as many cases were being reported in different countries.1