Self-perceived General and Ear-nose-throat Symptoms Related to the COVID-19 Outbreak: a Survey Study During Quarantine in Italy

Overview

Journal J Int Med Res

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2020 Oct 21

PMID 33081538

Citations 8

Authors

Alessandro Micarelli

Ivan Granito

Pasquale Carlino

Beatrice Micarelli

Marco Alessandrini

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To survey perceived general and ear-nose-throat (ENT) symptoms of COVID-19 in relation to psychological impact, mental health, perception of information and demographic characteristics in quarantined subjects during a lockdown period in Italy.

Methods: Participants were 1380 respondents who completed an online survey. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between the independent variables and perceived symptoms.

Results: Participants reported different prevalences of perceived ENT and general symptoms. Coryza, cough, sore throat and tinnitus were the most common symptoms, and there was a low prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress compared with the psychological impact of the symptom. Comparison of the two symptom groups demonstrated a common need for updates, their relationship with the media and correct information about the route of transmission.

Conclusions: The health information provided during a disease outbreak must be grounded in evidence. This would help to prevent adverse psychological reactions and somatization symptoms that can engulf healthcare systems, especially in clinical areas like ENT, which frequently treat airway problems.

Citing Articles

Prevalence and prognosis of tinnitus in post-COVID-19 patients: a cross-sectional survey.

Mao S, Gu D, Wang D, Li P, Huang X, Yin H Epidemiol Infect. 2024; 152:e137.

PMID: 39512084 PMC: 11574603. DOI: 10.1017/S095026882400147X.

Comparative Study of Audiovestibular Symptoms between Early and Late Variants of COVID-19.

Almishaal A Audiol Res. 2022; 12(6):680-695.

PMID: 36546906 PMC: 9774134. DOI: 10.3390/audiolres12060065.

Audio-Vestibular Profile of COVID-19; Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Maleki M, Maarefvand M, Nazeri A, Akbarzadeh Baghban A, Borna A Iran J Otorhinolaryngol. 2022; 34(123):145-155.

PMID: 36035653 PMC: 9393004. DOI: 10.22038/IJORL.2022.60404.3079.

Acute Vertigo After COVID-19 Vaccination: Case Series and Literature Review.

Di Mauro P, La Mantia I, Cocuzza S, Sciancalepore P, Rasa D, Maniaci A Front Med (Lausanne). 2022; 8:790931.

PMID: 35071270 PMC: 8770332. DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.790931.

New onset tinnitus in the absence of hearing changes following COVID-19 infection.

Daher G, Nassiri A, Vanichkachorn G, Carlson M, Neff B, Driscoll C Am J Otolaryngol. 2021; 43(1):103208.

PMID: 34536917 PMC: 8429075. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2021.103208.

References

Wu Z, McGoogan J . Characteristics of and Important Lessons From the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in China: Summary of a Report of 72 314 Cases From the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. JAMA. 2020; 323(13):1239-1242. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.2648. View

Maunder R, Hunter J, Vincent L, Bennett J, Peladeau N, Leszcz M . The immediate psychological and occupational impact of the 2003 SARS outbreak in a teaching hospital. CMAJ. 2003; 168(10):1245-51. PMC: 154178. View

Marjanovic Z, Greenglass E, Coffey S . The relevance of psychosocial variables and working conditions in predicting nurses' coping strategies during the SARS crisis: an online questionnaire survey. Int J Nurs Stud. 2006; 44(6):991-8. PMC: 7094220. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2006.02.012. View

Sim K, Chan Y, Chong P, Chua H, Wen Soon S . Psychosocial and coping responses within the community health care setting towards a national outbreak of an infectious disease. J Psychosom Res. 2010; 68(2):195-202. PMC: 7094450. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2009.04.004. View

Bottesi G, Ghisi M, Altoe G, Conforti E, Melli G, Sica C . The Italian version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21: Factor structure and psychometric properties on community and clinical samples. Compr Psychiatry. 2015; 60:170-81. DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2015.04.005. View

Cava M, Fay K, Beanlands H, McCay E, Wignall R . The experience of quarantine for individuals affected by SARS in Toronto. Public Health Nurs. 2005; 22(5):398-406. DOI: 10.1111/j.0737-1209.2005.220504.x. View

Kiecolt-Glaser J, McGuire L, Robles T, Glaser R . Emotions, morbidity, and mortality: new perspectives from psychoneuroimmunology. Annu Rev Psychol. 2001; 53:83-107. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901.135217. View

Li S, Wang Y, Xue J, Zhao N, Zhu T . The Impact of COVID-19 Epidemic Declaration on Psychological Consequences: A Study on Active Weibo Users. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(6). PMC: 7143846. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17062032. View

DiGiovanni C, Conley J, Chiu D, Zaborski J . Factors influencing compliance with quarantine in Toronto during the 2003 SARS outbreak. Biosecur Bioterror. 2005; 2(4):265-72. DOI: 10.1089/bsp.2004.2.265. View

10.

Rubin G, Potts H, Michie S . The impact of communications about swine flu (influenza A H1N1v) on public responses to the outbreak: results from 36 national telephone surveys in the UK. Health Technol Assess. 2010; 14(34):183-266. DOI: 10.3310/hta14340-03. View

11.

Xiang Y, Yang Y, Li W, Zhang L, Zhang Q, Cheung T . Timely mental health care for the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak is urgently needed. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020; 7(3):228-229. PMC: 7128153. DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30046-8. View

12.

Reynolds D, Garay J, Deamond S, Moran M, Gold W, Styra R . Understanding, compliance and psychological impact of the SARS quarantine experience. Epidemiol Infect. 2007; 136(7):997-1007. PMC: 2870884. DOI: 10.1017/S0950268807009156. View

13.

Leung G, Quah S, Ho L, Ho S, Hedley A, Lee H . Community psycho-behavioural surveillance and related impact on outbreak control in Hong Kong and Singapore during the SARS epidemic. Hong Kong Med J. 2010; 15 Suppl 9:30-4. View

14.

Lu R, Zhao X, Li J, Niu P, Yang B, Wu H . Genomic characterisation and epidemiology of 2019 novel coronavirus: implications for virus origins and receptor binding. Lancet. 2020; 395(10224):565-574. PMC: 7159086. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30251-8. View

15.

Robertson E, Hershenfield K, Grace S, Stewart D . The psychosocial effects of being quarantined following exposure to SARS: a qualitative study of Toronto health care workers. Can J Psychiatry. 2004; 49(6):403-7. DOI: 10.1177/070674370404900612. View

16.

Mathieu F . Occupational hazards: compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma and burnout. Can Nurse. 2014; 110(5):12-3. View

17.

Dowrick C, Katona C, Peveler R, Lloyd H . Somatic symptoms and depression: diagnostic confusion and clinical neglect. Br J Gen Pract. 2005; 55(520):829-30. PMC: 1570790. View

18.

Holingue C, Badillo-Goicoechea E, Riehm K, Veldhuis C, Thrul J, Johnson R . Mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic among US adults without a pre-existing mental health condition: Findings from American trend panel survey. Prev Med. 2020; 139:106231. PMC: 7846292. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106231. View

19.

Wang D, Hu B, Hu C, Zhu F, Liu X, Zhang J . Clinical Characteristics of 138 Hospitalized Patients With 2019 Novel Coronavirus-Infected Pneumonia in Wuhan, China. JAMA. 2020; 323(11):1061-1069. PMC: 7042881. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.1585. View

20.

Lee S, Crunk E . Fear and Psychopathology During the COVID-19 Crisis: Neuroticism, Hypochondriasis, Reassurance-Seeking, and Coronaphobia as Fear Factors. Omega (Westport). 2020; 85(2):483-496. DOI: 10.1177/0030222820949350. View