Conditional Dysosmia: a Very Unpleasant Symptom Causing Severe Anorexia and Breathing Problems in Covid-19: a Case Report


Conditional Dysosmia: a Very Unpleasant Symptom Causing Severe Anorexia and Breathing Problems in Covid-19: a Case Report


Abdulmohsin Younus Saleem1 and Abdul-Wahab Al-Allaf2*

1Early detection childhood disabilities centre, Otolaryngology Department, Duhok, Iraq.
2Rheumatology Section, Department of Rheumatology, Hamad Medical Institute, Doha, Qatar.


The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new coronavirus that is highly contagious and responsible for the ongoing pandemic disease; coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The disease was first identified in December 2019, and the World Health Organization declared the pandemic on the 11th of March 2020. Although individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 may be asymptomatic, the disease can present as an upper respiratory tract illness. In the majority of the cases, it is of a mild type, however, some patients experience severe viral pneumonia that leads to respiratory failure, and, in some cases to death.

A COVID-19 diagnosis is confirmed by viral RNA detection in nasopharyngeal swab specimens; nonetheless, in some countries, COVID-19 tests are not available for screening and are only used to diagnose severe cases. Since 31 December 2019 and as of 17 October 2020 and in accordance with the applied case definitions and testing strategies in the affected countries 39 400 032 cases of COVID-19 have been reported, including 1 105 353 deaths [1].

The main way to control the spread of COVID-19 is to prevent human-to-human transmission, which can be achieved through a combination of public health measures, including the rapid identification and isolation of infected people [1].

Diagnostic suspicion is based on nonspecific symptoms, such as fever, odynophagia, head-  ache, and dry cough which are present in almost all acute respiratory virus cases [2].

Anosmia, which may be associated with the loss of taste, has been initially observed in European cases and seems to be a more specific symptom of COVID-19. Thus, during the pandemic, individuals with these symptoms should be tested for COVID-19; when tests are not available, isolation of the patient is indicated [3].

It should also be noted that olfactory dysfunction significantly influences the physical well-being, quality of life, safety, and nutritional status of those affected. And it becomes a greater problem when it becomes permanent. Yet, very little is known about olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19. Through our case report and review of the subject of the olfactory dysfunction, we would like to contribute to the existing knowledge and clinical evolution and to reinforce the importance of this manifestation from the patient prospected, and in the diagnosis and control of the disease from Otolaryngological point of view.

We, self-reported an Anosmia turned to Dysosmia (in Otolaryngeal senior consultant) and in one of his patient with anosmia which was followed by Dysosmia as well. This occurred in August 2020 and September 2020 in Duhok, Iraq.


Keywords: Conditional Dysosmia, COVID-19, case report


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How to cite this article:

Abdulmohsin Younus Saleem and Abdul-Wahab Al-Allaf. Conditional Dysosmia: a Very Unpleasant Symptom Causing Severe Anorexia and Breathing Problems in Covid-19: a Case Report. International Journal of Case Reports, 2020; 4:174. DOI: 10.28933/ijcr-2020-10-2905


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