Xiaoqing Jia1, Shan Shao2, Hong Ren3, Yuan Xu4, Jinming Zhao5, Yan Zhao6, Yue Wang5, Shiping Bao7, Junping Yan8, Xiangdong Wang9, Luo Zhang10. 1. Department of Respiration, Third Hospital of Baotou City, Baotou, China. 2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Ministry of Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 3. Department of Infection, Third Hospital of Baotou City, Baotou, China. 4. Departments of Oncology, Community Health Sciences, and Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, and The Center for Health Informatics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. 5. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Ministry of Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 6. Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing, China. 7. Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 8. Department of Respiration, Third Hospital of Baotou City, Baotou, China. btsyyyjp@163.com. 9. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Ministry of Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing, China. entwxd@vip.sina.com. 10. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Ministry of Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing, China. dr.luozhang@139.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sinonasal symptoms were usually reported to appear initially, yielding the symptoms important for the early detection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study was conducted retrospectively to investigate the detailed sinonasal manifestations and dynamic profile of real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in COVID-19 patients longitudinally. METHODS: This retrospective study included 11 consecutive patients. The prevalence, timing and severity of sinonasal manifestations were analyzed. Oropharyngeal, nasal, sputum and stool specimens were collected to detect RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 over COVID-19 period. RESULTS: Among the 11 patients, 6 (54.5%) were female, and the median age was 51 (IQR, 36-62) years. Seven patients (63.6%) experienced sinonasal symptoms, with 6 (54.5%) exhibiting sinonasal symptoms on the onset day. Seven patients (63.6%) demonstrated nasal obstruction, 5 (45.5%) had rhinorrhea, and 4 (36.4%) exhibited olfactory dysfunction. All six patients with sinonasal symptoms on the onset day had non-severe infections. Most patients (85.7%) with sinonasal symptoms had non-severe infections. Sinonasal symptoms commonly appeared early. The positive RT-PCR rate for SARS-CoV-2 in various specimens was highest in the first week (73.3%), then gradually decreased over the disease course, but 3 patients (27.3%) had experienced a long-lasting fluctuated positive RT-PCR results since 29 days of illness in both groups, especially for two patients with airway comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Sinonasal symptoms were more prevalent in patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 and usually appeared early. In addition, regular nucleic acid testing for SARS-CoV-2 should be considered for COVID-19 patients with certain airway comorbidities.
BACKGROUND: Sinonasal symptoms were usually reported to appear initially, yielding the symptoms important for the early detection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study was conducted retrospectively to investigate the detailed sinonasal manifestations and dynamic profile of real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in COVID-19patients longitudinally. METHODS: This retrospective study included 11 consecutive patients. The prevalence, timing and severity of sinonasal manifestations were analyzed. Oropharyngeal, nasal, sputum and stool specimens were collected to detect RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 over COVID-19 period. RESULTS: Among the 11 patients, 6 (54.5%) were female, and the median age was 51 (IQR, 36-62) years. Seven patients (63.6%) experienced sinonasal symptoms, with 6 (54.5%) exhibiting sinonasal symptoms on the onset day. Seven patients (63.6%) demonstrated nasal obstruction, 5 (45.5%) had rhinorrhea, and 4 (36.4%) exhibited olfactory dysfunction. All six patients with sinonasal symptoms on the onset day had non-severe infections. Most patients (85.7%) with sinonasal symptoms had non-severe infections. Sinonasal symptoms commonly appeared early. The positive RT-PCR rate for SARS-CoV-2 in various specimens was highest in the first week (73.3%), then gradually decreased over the disease course, but 3 patients (27.3%) had experienced a long-lasting fluctuated positive RT-PCR results since 29 days of illness in both groups, especially for two patients with airway comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Sinonasal symptoms were more prevalent in patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 and usually appeared early. In addition, regular nucleic acid testing for SARS-CoV-2 should be considered for COVID-19patients with certain airway comorbidities.