RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: An objective evaluation of coronavirus disease 2019 in the first days of infection is almost impossible, as affected individuals are generally in home quarantine, and there is limited accessibility for the operator who should perform the test. To overcome this limitation, a recently validated psychophysical self-administered test was used, which can be performed remotely in the assessment of early-stage coronavirus disease 2019 patients. METHODS: Olfactory and gustatory functions were objectively assessed in 300 patients in the first 7 days from coronavirus disease 2019 symptom onset. RESULTS: Seventy per cent of the patients presented olfactory and/or gustatory disorders. The dysfunctions detected were mainly complete anosmia (47 per cent) or ageusia (38 per cent). A significant correlation was found between taste dysfunction and female gender (odds ratio = 1.936, p = 0.014) and fever (odds ratio = 2.132, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The psychophysical evaluation protocol proposed is an effective tool for the fast and objective evaluation of patients in the early stages of coronavirus disease 2019. Chemosensitive disorders have been confirmed to be frequent and early symptoms of the coronavirus infection, and, in a significant number of cases, they are the first or only manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Coronavirus/fisiopatología , Autoevaluación Diagnóstica , Técnicas y Procedimientos Diagnósticos , Trastornos del Olfato/diagnóstico , Neumonía Viral/fisiopatología , Trastornos del Gusto/diagnóstico , Telemedicina , Ácido Acético , Adulto , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Chocolate , Café , Combinación de Medicamentos , Femenino , Jugos de Frutas y Vegetales , Productos Domésticos , Humanos , Italia , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Antisépticos Bucales , Trastornos del Olfato/fisiopatología , Pandemias , Extractos Vegetales , SARS-CoV-2 , Autoinforme , Umbral Sensorial , Factores Sexuales , Jabones , Especias , Trastornos del Gusto/fisiopatología , Umbral Gustativo , Terpenos , Pastas de Dientes , VinoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: A few indoor plants have been described as potential allergens, in single case reports of allergic rhinitis. There is no data evaluating the prevalence of allergic sensitization to these plants. AIM: The relationship between owning indoor ornamental plants with the risk to be sensitized has been evaluated in atopic rhinitis. METHODS: A group of 59 patients with allergic rhinitis were submitted to skin prick tests (SPT) using both the leafs of their own plant and commercial extracts of the most frequent airborne allergens. A control group of 15 healthy subjects was tested with the same allergens. RESULTS: While no subject from the control group developed a significant SPT to any of the tested plants, 78% of allergic rhinitis had positive SPT to at least one plant, the most frequent sensitization being Ficus benjamina, yucca, ivy and palm tree. CONCLUSION: In allergic rhinitis, indoor plants should be considered as potential allergens.