Postinfectious Olfactory Complaints: A Follow-up Study

Overview

Journal Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol

Publisher Thieme

Specialty Otorhinolaryngology

Date 2022 Nov 21

PMID 36405470

Authors

Giulio Cesare Passali

Desiderio Passali

Giorgio Ciprandi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Acute upper respiratory infection (AURI) is the most common cause of postinfectious olfactory dysfunction (PIOD). We investigated the prevalence of PIOD in a large group of patients reporting persistent smell impairment perception after the AURI resolution. Olfactometry was performed within 1 month after the common cold resolution and after 1 year in 467 (299 males, mean age 41.7 years) outpatients. The Sniffin' Sticks olfactory test (Burghart instruments, Wedel, Germany) was used. Anosmia was documented in 28 (6%) patients, hyposmia in 33 (7%), and cacosmia in 55 (11.7%). After 1 year, PIOD improved in 82 (79.6%) patients re-tested. The current study demonstrated that persistent olfactory dysfunction is a relevant symptom in patients with AURI, even though many patients had normal olfactometry. Thus, smell impairment deserves careful attention and requires objective documentation.

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