Relationship Between Smell Disorders and Pulmonary Involvement in COVID-19

Aim: Some symptoms of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) are more common in patients without pulmonary involvement and in patients with a good prognosis. Although it is known that smelling disorders are more common in patients with a good prognosis, their relationship with pulmonary involvement is unknown. This study ianvestigated the relationship between smell disorders and pulmonary involvement in COVID-19. Method(s): This cross-sectional study was conducted between May 2022 and July 2022 and included 60 COVID-19 patients with pulmonary involvement and 60 COVID-19 patients without pulmonary involvement. Phone-call interviews were performed with all patients 1 month after the diagnosis of COVID-19 and their sense of smell was questioned with a questionnaire. The prevalence of smell disorders, type and severity of smell disorders were questioned, and participants were asked to grade their answers from 0 to 10. Result(s): In 58 (48.3%) of the patients, smell disorders were found to be present. Hyposmia was detected in 35 (60.34%), and anosmia was detected in 23 (39.66%) of these patients. Smell disorder was present in 20 (33.3%) patients with pulmonary involvement and in 38 (63.3%) patients without pulmonary involvement. The prevalence of smell disorders was significantly higher in patients without pulmonary involvement (p=0.001). Hyposmia in 15 patients (25%) and anosmia in 5 patients (8.3%) were found in patients with pulmonary involvement. Hyposmia in 20 patients (33.3%) and anosmia in 5 patients (8.3%) were found in patients without pulmonary involvement. The prevalence of anosmia was significantly higher in patients without pulmonary involvement (p=0.003). The smell disorders were significantly more severe in patients without pulmonary involvement (p=0.042). Conclusion(s): Smell disorders are seen more frequently and more severely in patients without pulmonary involvement due to COVID-19 than in patients with pulmonary involvement. Copyright © 2022 by The Medical Bulletin of Istanbul Haseki Training and Research Hospital The Medical Bulletin of Haseki published by Galenos Yayinevi.

The Relationship Between Balance Disorders and Lung Involvement in COVID-19 Patients

Introduction: To better understand COVID-19 and prevent the spread of the disease, symptoms associated with COVID-19 should be known. The list of symptoms of COVID-19 is expanding. This study aimed to examine the relation between balance disorders and radiologically detected lung involvement seen in COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Cerrahpasa School of Medicine Hospital and Cerrahpasa Medicine Faculty between July 2021 to June 2022. The study included 174 COVID-19 patients with pulmonary involvement (Group 1) and 174 COVID-19 patients without pulmonary involvement (Group 2). Balance disorders of the patients within one month after the diagnosis of COVID-19 were questioned with a self-reported questionnaire made over the phone. The incidence of balance disorders, type of balance disorder, onset time, duration, and severity were questioned. Results: Balance disorders were detected in 67 (19.3%) of the patients. Dizziness was detected in 60 (89.55%) of these patients, and vertigo was detected in seven (10.45%) of them. The number of patients with balance disorders was 49 (28.2%) in Group 1 and 18 (10.3%) in Group 2. The frequency of balance disorders was significantly higher in Group 1 (p= 0.001). Vertigo was detected in in (3.4%) and dizziness in 43 patients (24.7%) in Group 1, and vertigo was detected in one patient (0.6%) and dizziness in 17 patients (9.8%) in Group 2. The frequency of dizziness was significantly higher in Group 1 (p= 0.001). Balance disorders were significantly longer and more severe in Group 1 (p= 0.048, p= 0.029, respectively). Conclusion: Balance disorders can be a symptom of COVID-19, and they may be more frequent, more serious, and longer lasting in patients with pulmonary involvement.

Relationship Between the Nasopharyngeal Swab Sampling Method, Nasal Obstruction, and SARS-Cov-2 Positivity

Aim: We think that the nasopharyngeal swab sample should be taken bilaterally to improve the sensitivity of the real-time-reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test since there may be pathologies that cause nasal obstruction, such as nasal septum deviation (NSD). In this context, we investigated the effect of the nasopharyngeal swab sampling method and the presence of nasal obstruction on the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Method(s): This prospective clinical study was conducted from March 2021 to January 2022. Forty-four hospitalized patients with NSD were included in the study group, and 44 hospitalized patients without NSD were included in the control group. The results of the RT-PCR test studied with a unilateral nasopharyngeal swab sample taken during hospitalization and the RT-PCR test studied with a bilateral nasopharyngeal swab sample taken on the 2nd day of hospitalization and the visual analog scale (VAS) scores showing the patients' pain during the first sampling were determined. Result(s): In the first test, 23 (52.3%) patients in the study group and 32 (72.7%) patients in the control group were evaluated as SARS-CoV-2 positive. The first test sensitivity was significantly higher in the control group (p=0.048). The VAS score was significantly higher in the study group (p=0.00008). In the second test, 35 (79.5%) patients in the study group and 37 (84.1%) patients in the control group were evaluated as SARS-CoV-2 positive. The sensitivity increases in the study group and in the population were statistically significant (p=0.007 and p=0.004, respectively). The consistency of the first and second test results increased in patients without NSD and in patients with low VAS scores [odds ratio (OR)=3.779;p=0.001, OR=2.572;p=0.005, respectively]. Conclusion(s): Nasopharyngeal swab sampling may be affected by nasal congestion and the sampling method. To avoid this, it may be more appropriate to take a nasopharyngeal swab sample through the bilateral nasal cavity. Copyright © 2022 by The Medical Bulletin of Istanbul Haseki Training and Research Hospital The Medical Bulletin of Haseki published by Galenos Yayinevi.

The Relationship Between the Presence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 during Pregnancy and Neonatal Hearing Loss

Introduction: In this study, we investigated the maternal severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection's effect on newborn hearing loss. Methods: Thirty-nine newborns whose mother's SARS-CoV-2 real time-polymerase chain reaction test was positive at the time of parturition were included in this study. Another 39 newborns who were born from healthy pregnancies were selected as the control group. Neonates with risk factors for hearing loss determined by the American Academy of Pediatrics Joint Committee on Infant Hearing 2007 and those with ear pathology were excluded. The newborn hearing screening was done with auditory brainstem response (ABR) test. Second ABR test (ABR-2) was performed on newborns who failed the 1st test (ABR-1). The third ABR test (ABR-3) was performed on newborns who failed the second ABR test (ABR-2). The screening results were analyzed statistically. Results: In the control group, a total of 6 (15.4%) newborns failed ABR-1, five newborns in one ear (3 right, 2 left), and one newborn in both ears. In the study group, a total of 14 (35.9%) newborns failed ABR-1, 11 newborns from both ears and 3 (2 right, 1 left) newborns from one ear. ABR-1 results were significantly worse in the study group's neonates (p=0.038). In addition, the rate of involvement of both ears was higher in the study group (p=0.018;p<0.05). 1 (16.7%) newborn in the control group and 2 (14.3%) newborns in the study group failed the ABR-2 in both ears. There was no statistically significant difference according to the ABR-2 test (p=0.681;p>0.05). All babies passed the ABR-3. Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between neonatal hearing loss and maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection. This hearing loss is usually bilateral and temporary.

Multisystemic Long-Term Sequelae of Covid-19: A Review Based on the Current Literature Over a Year of Pandemic Experience

On January 7, 2020, it was announced that the Chinese Government isolated a new variant of Coronavirus (SARS CoV-2). Officials reported that populations were not equally affected in terms of the number of cases, severe illness, and death. As of 28 December 2020, 81,000,000 cases have been confirmed globally, and approximately 1,770,000 total deaths have been reported for COVID-19. Besides difficulties of COVID-19 management in the acute stage, long-term consequences of the infection could cause widespread public health problems across the World. This review article aims to examine current literature regarding COVID-19, identify post-illness sequelae, detect patients at risk for sequelae, and provide guidance to management strategies. In the report, long-term pulmonary sequels and systemic problems including cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric, endocrinologic, nephrological, hematologic, gastrointestinal, dermatologic, etc. of COVID-19 are discussed in accordance with recent scientific publications.