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Journal of Medical Virology Apr 2021Various new clinical signs and symptoms, such as dysfunction of smell (anosmia) and taste (dysgeusia) have emerged ever since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)...
Various new clinical signs and symptoms, such as dysfunction of smell (anosmia) and taste (dysgeusia) have emerged ever since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic begun. The objective of this study was to identify the clinical presentation and factors associated with 'new loss/change of smell (anosmia) or taste (dysgeusia)' at admission in patients positive by real time polymerase chain reaction for SARS-CoV-2 infection. All adult COVID-19 patients with new onset anosmia or dysgeusia at admission were included in study group. Equal number of age and gender matched COVID-19 patients without anosmia or dysgeusia at admission were included in the control group. A total of 261 COVID-19 patients were admitted during the study period of which 55 (21%) had anosmia and or dysgeusia. The mean (SD) age was 36 (13) years and majority were males (58%, n = 32). Comorbidity was present in 38% of cases (n = 21). Anosmia and dysgeusia were noted in more than 1/5th of the cases. Anosmia (96%, n = 53) was more common than dysgeusia (75%, n = 41). Presence of both ansomia and dysgeusia was noted in 71% of patients (n = 39). On comparing the cases with the controls, on univariate analysis, fever (higher in cases), rhinitis (lower in cases), thrombocytopenia, elevated creatinine and bilirubin (all higher in cases) were significantly associated with anosmia or dysgeusia. On multivariate analysis, only rhinitis (odds ratio [OR]: 0.28; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.09-0.83; p = .02) thrombocytopenia (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.99-0.99; p = .01) and elevated creatinine (OR: 7.6; 95% CI: 1.5-37.6; p = .01) remained significant. In this retrospective study of COVID-19 patients, we found anosmia and dysgeusia in more than 1/5th of the cases. Absence of rhinitis, low platelet counts and elevated creatinine were associated with anosmia or dysgeusia in these patients.
Topics: Adult; Anosmia; COVID-19; Case-Control Studies; Dysgeusia; Female; Humans; India; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Odds Ratio; Pandemics; Platelet Count; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Retrospective Studies; Rhinitis; SARS-CoV-2; Thrombocytopenia
PubMed: 33417259
DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26784 -
Lancet (London, England) Oct 1996
Topics: Ageusia; Dysgeusia; Female; Humans; Lyme Disease
PubMed: 8874477
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)64449-2 -
Supportive Care in Cancer : Official... Aug 2010The purpose was to review relevant scientific papers written since 1989 which focused on the prevalence and management of dysgeusia as an oral side effect of cancer... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The purpose was to review relevant scientific papers written since 1989 which focused on the prevalence and management of dysgeusia as an oral side effect of cancer treatment.
METHODS
Our literature search was limited to English language papers published between 1990 and 2008. A total of 30 papers were reviewed; the results of 26 of these papers were included in the present systematic review. A structured assessment form was used by two reviewers for each paper. Studies were weighted as to the quality of the study design, and treatment recommendations were based on the relative strength of each paper.
RESULTS
A wide range in reported prevalence of dysgeusia was identified with the weighted prevalence from 56-76%, depending on the type of cancer treatment. Attempts to prevent dysgeusia through the prophylactic use of zinc sulfate or amifostine have been of limited benefit. Nutritional counseling may be helpful to some patients in minimizing the symptoms of dysgeusia.
CONCLUSIONS
Dysgeusia is a common oral side effect of cancer therapy (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or combined modality therapy) and often impacts negatively on quality of life. From the current literature, there does not appear to be a predictable way of preventing or treating dysgeusia.
Topics: Amifostine; Dysgeusia; Humans; Neoplasms; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Zinc Sulfate
PubMed: 20495984
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-010-0902-1 -
The American Journal of Medicine Jul 2016Disorders of taste and smell can cause an aversion to food in a sick patient and therefore affect his/her ability to maintain optimal nutrition. This can lead to a... (Review)
Review
Disorders of taste and smell can cause an aversion to food in a sick patient and therefore affect his/her ability to maintain optimal nutrition. This can lead to a reduced level of strength, muscle mass, function, and quality of life. Additionally, reduced ability to differentiate between various intensities or concentrations of a tastant can result in increased intake of salt and sugar and exacerbation of chronic diseases such as heart failure and diabetes. These implications can be heightened in the elderly, who are particularly frail and are challenged by polypharmacy and multiple comorbid conditions. In this article, we will review the prevalence, etiology, and management of taste disorders. Additionally, we will review the association between taste and smell disorders and how disorders of smell can affect perception of taste.
Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Anorexia; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Dysgeusia; Hospitalization; Humans; Laryngeal Masks; Long-Term Care; Nursing Homes; Nutritional Status; Olfaction Disorders; Oral Health; Otologic Surgical Procedures; Polypharmacy; Postoperative Complications; Quality of Life
PubMed: 26899755
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2016.02.003 -
Clinical Calcium 2017The enjoyment of tastes should be one of the greatest pleasures in life. Without the sense of taste, one cannot enjoy one's food. The result would then be poor appetite,...
The enjoyment of tastes should be one of the greatest pleasures in life. Without the sense of taste, one cannot enjoy one's food. The result would then be poor appetite, eating less and weight loss. As the elderly population in Japan increases, the number of patients suffering from taste disorder has also increased. While changes in the ability to distinguish tastes are partly associated with advancing age, they occur moreover in response to secondary influences, such as the side effects of drugs, or the effects of some diseases including periodontal disease/oral infections, nervous disorders, nutritional impairment, and endocrine disorders. Some drugs affect sensitivity to taste by directly stimulating the taste receptors, not only altering the normal transmission process and cellular functions, but also altering the salivary flow. The reduction of salivary flow strongly correlates with a decline in taste perception. In cases of taste disorder, early detection and treatment are important because the appreciation of taste is vital for overall health and long life.
Topics: Dysgeusia; Electrophysiological Phenomena; Humans; Taste; Taste Perception
PubMed: 28947687
DOI: No ID Found -
Cancer Radiotherapie : Journal de La... Jul 2021Purpose of this review of medical literature is to present the immediate side effects of radiation therapy for head and neck cancer and their treatment. The likelihood... (Review)
Review
Purpose of this review of medical literature is to present the immediate side effects of radiation therapy for head and neck cancer and their treatment. The likelihood and severity of these immediate side effects depends on a number of factors, including the total dose of radiation delivered, over what time it was delivered and what parts of the head and neck received radiation. Early side effects include: inflammation of the oropharyngeal mucosa (mucositis), painful swallowing (odynophagia), difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), hoarseness, lack of saliva (xerostomia), orofacial pain, laryngeal radionecrosis, dermatitis, hair loss, nausea, vomiting, inadequate nutrition and hydration, and weight loss. These complications can interfere with, and delay treatment. Most of these side effects generally dissipate over time. In conclusion, radiation treatment for the head and neck cancer causes significant early side effects. Many of these side effects present difficult challenges to the patients. Their recognition and treatment can significantly improve the patients' health, long-term survival and quality of life. The review provides information that can assist head and cancer survivors deal with radiation side effects.
Topics: Alopecia; Brain; Deglutition Disorders; Dehydration; Dysgeusia; Facial Pain; Fatigue; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Laryngeal Cartilages; Mouth Mucosa; Mucositis; Nausea; Necrosis; Periodontal Diseases; Radiodermatitis; Radiotherapy; Vomiting; Weight Loss; Xerostomia
PubMed: 33685809
DOI: 10.1016/j.canrad.2021.02.001 -
Journal of the Formosan Medical... Jan 2021To investigate the characteristics of dysosmia and dysgeusia among patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE
To investigate the characteristics of dysosmia and dysgeusia among patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Taiwan.
METHODS
Prospective data collection between January 22, 2020 to May 7, 2020 of nucleic acid confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized patients in northern Taiwan by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control were analyzed.
RESULTS
Of 217 patients enrolled, 78 (35.9%) reported dysosmia (n = 73, 33.6%) and/or dysgeusia (n = 62, 28.6%). The median duration of COVID-19 associated symptom-onset to development of dysosmia and/or dysgeusia was <1 days (interquartile range [IQR], <1-6 days) and 53 of 78 (67.9%) patients developed dysosmia and/or dysgeusia as one of the initial symptoms of COVID-19. Of 59 closely monitored patients, 41 (69.5%) patients recovered within 3 weeks after symptoms onset and the median time to recovery was 12 days (IQR, 7-20 days). Only 6 of the 59 (10.2%) patients reported persistent dysosmia and/or dysgeusia before discharge from hospitals. Multivariate analysis showed that younger individuals (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.93 per one-year increase; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.89-0.97; P = 0.001), women (AHR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.05-7.25; P = 0.04) and travel to North America (AHR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.05-5.26; P = 0.04) were the significant factors associated with dysosmia and/or dysgeusia.
CONCLUSION
Dysosmia and/or dysgeusia are common symptoms and clues for the diagnosis of COVID-19, particularly in the early stage of the disease. Physicians should be alerted to these symptoms to make timely diagnosis and management for COVID-19 to limit spread.
Topics: Adult; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; Case-Control Studies; Dysgeusia; Early Diagnosis; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Olfaction Disorders; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Taiwan
PubMed: 33139151
DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2020.10.003 -
Lancet (London, England) Jun 1993
Topics: Captopril; Dysgeusia; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Selenium
PubMed: 8099421
DOI: 10.1016/0140-6736(93)90686-b -
Otolaryngology--head and Neck Surgery :... Jul 2023A novel COVID-19 therapeutic, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid), is commonly associated with reports of dysgeusia. The Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
OBJECTIVE
A novel COVID-19 therapeutic, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid), is commonly associated with reports of dysgeusia. The Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database was used to determine the real-world reporting of Paxlovid-associated dysgeusia (PAD), identify associated factors, and describe the relative reporting rates of dysgeusia for Paxlovid compared to other COVID-19 therapeutics (OCT), ritonavir alone, and other protease inhibitors (OPI).
STUDY DESIGN
Observational retrospective.
SETTING
Tertiary academic medical center.
METHODS
We collected patient and adverse event characteristics reported in the FAERS database between January 1968 and September 2022. Disproportionality analyses were used to compare the reporting of PAD to dysgeusia reported for OCT, ritonavir, and OPI.
RESULTS
345,229 adverse events were included in the present study. Dysgeusia was a frequently reported Paxlovid-associated adverse event (17.5%) and was associated with nonserious COVID-19 infection (reporting odds ratio [ROR] 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2, 1.7) and female sex (ROR = 1.7; 95% CI 1.6, 1.9). Paxlovid was more likely to be associated with the reporting of dysgeusia compared to OCT (ROR 305.4; 95% CI 164.1, 568.5), ritonavir (ROR 28.0; 95% CI 24.1, 32.7), and OPI (ROR 49.0; 95% CI 42.8, 56.1).
CONCLUSION
Dysgeusia is much more likely to be reported by patients receiving Paxlovid than those receiving OCT, ritonavir alone, or OPI. These findings suggest a potential mechanism of dysgeusia that causes distorted taste out of proportion to the background effects of COVID-19 infection and specific to nirmatrelvir. Future studies are needed to determine the underlying pathophysiology and long-term clinical implications for patients who report dysgeusia with Paxlovid.
Topics: Female; Humans; COVID-19; Dysgeusia; Pharmacovigilance; Retrospective Studies; Ritonavir; United States
PubMed: 36821807
DOI: 10.1002/ohn.278 -
Journal of Clinical Neuroscience :... Apr 2018Dysgeusia, or foul taste, is a rarely reported side effect in patients who have undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the thalamus for essential tremor. This...
Dysgeusia, or foul taste, is a rarely reported side effect in patients who have undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the thalamus for essential tremor. This retrospective study evaluated the incidence, nature, neurophysiological and anatomical location of dysgeusia following DBS. Of 52 patients who had undergone DBS for essential tremor, eight (15%) reported dysgeusia, which was described as a "metallic," "sour," "foul," or "cold" taste in the mouth. Dysgeusia was separate and distinguishable from paresthesia. Dysgeusia was more frequently reported with bilateral than unilateral DBS implants (6 of 27 (22%) vs. 2 of 25 (8%) patients, respectively). The anatomical locations of the contacts causing dysgeusia were measured on postoperative MRI, and compared to those from seven control patients who did not experience dysgeusia after receiving bilateral DBS implants. Leads causing dysgeusia were more posterior than non-dysgeusia-associated leads (4.5 ± 1.2 vs. 5.7 ± 1.8 mm anterior to the posterior commissure, respectively, P < .001). Intraoperative microelectrode recording indicated that these contacts were in the sensory region of the thalamus. Intraoperative testing found that low sensory threshold for paresthesia predicted the development of dysgeusia postoperatively (1.5 ± 0.5 V vs. 3.3 ± 1.9 V; P < .05). These data indicate that taste perception can be altered in the human through DBS, with posterior leads likely within the sensory region of the thalamus. Dysgeusia can be reduced by changing stimulation parameters, or surgical revision of the lead.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Deep Brain Stimulation; Dysgeusia; Essential Tremor; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Thalamus
PubMed: 29402567
DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2018.01.013