Olfactory dysfunction: A clinical marker of COVID-19

Abstract

Due to the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, many health systems worldwide are overwhelmed, leading to the triggering of the scarcity of medical resources. The identification of indicators that re-quire hospital admission help in the efficient allocation of medical resources. Olfactory impairment is also one of the indicators of COVID-19 infection. Many studies have analyzed olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 with a variable prevalence rate but underreporting of this problem is very much likely as the problem is considered benign. Many scientific societies have stated that olfactory dysfunction is a frequent symptom of COVID-19 and have published recommendations for it.