Incidence and prognosis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain infection in China: A national multicenter survey of 35,566 individuals.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the epidemiology of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to COVID-19 in China. Methods: This study was conducted by 45 tertiary Grade-A hospitals in China. Online and offline questionnaire data were obtained from patients infected with COVID-19 between December 28, 2022, and February 21, 2023. The collected information included basic demographics, medical history, smoking and drinking history, vaccination history, changes in olfactory and gustatory functions before and after infection, and other postinfection symptoms, as well as the duration and improvement status of olfactory and gustatory disorders. Results: Complete questionnaires were obtained from 35,566 subjects. The overall incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunction was 67.75%. Being female or being a cigarette smoker increased the likelihood of developing olfactory and taste dysfunction. Having received four doses of the vaccine or having good oral health or being a alcohol drinker decreased the risk of such dysfunction. Before infection, the average olfactory and taste VAS scores were 8.41 and 8.51, respectively; after infection, they decreased to 3.69 and 4.29 and recovered to 5.83 and 6.55 by the time of the survey. The median duration of dysosmia and dysgeusia was 15 and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% of patients having symptoms lasting for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate was 59.16%. Recovery was higher in males, never smokers, those who received two or three vaccine doses, and those that had never experienced dental health issues, or chronic accompanying symptoms. Conclusions: The incidence of dysosmia and dysgeusia following infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is high in China. Incidence and prognosis are influenced by several factors, including sex, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, history of head-facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking and drinking history, and the persistence of accompanying symptoms.

[Clinical analysis of orbital complications of acute rhinosinusitis in adults].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features, diagnosis and therapy of surgical intervention for orbital complications of acute rhinosinusitis in adults. METHODS: Four adults with orbital complications of acute rhinosinusitis were retrospectively reviewed. The patients underwent transnasal endoscopic sinus surgery or combined with eyebrow incision after conservative treatments failed. RESULTS: There were 2 cases with orbital abscess, 2 cases with subperiosteal abscess. Two of them suffered from diabetes. After operation, constitutional symptoms and ocular symptoms disappeared in all 4 patients. CT was rechecked during the postoperative follow-up. The imaging showed that the orbital and nasal lesions were obviously relieved or disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: The orbital complications of acute rhinosinusitis in adults are clinically rare. The patients are usually with low immunity or underlying conditions, such as diabetes. Based on the basis of controlling basic diseases, the treatment outcome of orbital complications of acute rhinosinusitis in adults is affirmative by surgery and conservative managements.

[Clinical analysis of orbital complications of acute pediatric sinusitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the treatment outcome of surgical intervention for orbital complications of acute pediatric sinusitis. METHODS: Five children with orbital complications of acute sinusitis were retrospectively reviewed. The patients underwent pediatric endoscopic sinus surgery (PESS) after conservative treatment failed. RESULTS: There were 1 case with orbital cellulitis, 3 cases with subperiosteal abscess and 1 case with orbital abscess. After operation, the body temperature in all 5 patients returned to normal and ocular symptoms disappeared. CT or MRI was rechecked after PESS. The imaging showed that the orbital and nasal lesions disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: If conservative treatment fails, it is important to perform PESS for children with orbital complications of acute sinusitis to clean the focus of infection as soon as possible. The surgery is safe and effective.