Abstract
ObjectiveThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a threat to global health. Early diagnosis is an essential key to limit the outbreak of the virus.Study DesignCase series, study conducted between March 25, 2020, and April 15, 2020.SettingAmbulatory, nonhospitalized patients who were quarantined in a designated hotel for COVID-19 patients and were recruited by an advertisement at the hotel.Subjects and MethodsIn total, 140 patients participated in a web-based questionnaire assessing initial symptoms of common viral diseases, olfactory and taste functions, xerostomia, and orofacial pain.ResultsA total of 58 men and 70 women participated. Initial symptoms were cough (59.4%), weakness (47.7%), myalgia (46.9%), fever (42.2%), headache (40.6%), impaired sense of smell (38.3%), impaired sense of taste (32.8%), sore throat (26.6%), runny nose (26.6%), and nasal congestion (22.7%). All symptoms were more frequent among women; however, only runny nose was statistically significant (P = .018). The most common combination of symptoms was cough and weakness (37.5%). A total of 25.8% reported olfactory and taste dysfunctions in the absence of other symptoms. In a comparison between the sexes, cough and runny nose were the most common combination in women (P = .018). A total of 38.3% of patients reported olfactory dysfunction as an initial symptom. Anosmia and facial pain were more common among women (P < .001 and P = .01, respectively), and 56% of patients reported xerostomia.ConclusionA considerable number of patients presented with olfactory and oral disorders. Interestingly, women presented with a different cluster of symptoms than men, which may suggest a new clinical approach to diagnosing COVID-19 disease.
Highlights
Methods140 patients participated in a web-based questionnaire assessing initial symptoms of common viral diseases, olfactory and taste functions, xerostomia, and orofacial pain
Anosmia and facial pain were more common among women (P \.001 and P = .01, respectively), and 56% of patients reported xerostomia
Women presented with a different cluster of symptoms than men, which may suggest a new clinical approach to diagnosing COVID-19 disease
Summary
140 patients participated in a web-based questionnaire assessing initial symptoms of common viral diseases, olfactory and taste functions, xerostomia, and orofacial pain. According to the Israel Ministry of Health, by April 14, 2020, a total of 9870 COVID-19 patients were diagnosed in Israel (9385 ambulatory patients).[11] Among them, 140 ambulatory, nonhospitalized patients who were quarantined in a designated hotel for COVID-19 patients were recruited by an advertisement at the hotel (sample size 1.42%). All patients were diagnosed by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR) and considered to have mild symptoms, according to the latest WHO joint report.[12]. A web-based survey tool, Google Forms (Google, LLC), was used to create the questionnaire. A standard digitally secured questionnaire link was sent to each patient’s mobile phone. Patients could submit the questionnaire only once. A digital consent to participate in the study was obtained prior to completing the questionnaire
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