Nadiskubre ng ilang doktor at public health experts na ang pagkawala umano ng panlasa at pang-amoy ay maaaring isa sa mga sintomas ng 2019 coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19).
Sa inilabas na pahayag ng mga meidcal specialists mula sa Estados Unidos at Britanya, lalo raw nagiging matibay ang ebidensya na ang “anosmia” o pagkawala ng pang-amoy at “dysgeusia” o pagkawala ng panlasa ay nakikita mula sa mga pasyente na kalaunan ay lumalabas na positibo sa naturang virus.
“Anecdotal evidence is rapidly accumulating from sites around the world that anosmia and dysgeusia are significant symptoms associated with the Covid-19 pandemic,” inihayag sa isang sulat ng American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery.
“We propose that these symptoms be added to the list of screening tools for the possible Covid-19 infection … and warrant serious consideration for self-isolation and testing of these individuals.”
Batay umano sa pagsusuri, 30% ng mga pasyente sa South Korea na positibo sa naturang virus ay mayroong anosmia.
“There is potential that if any adult with anosmia but no other symptoms was asked to self-isolate for seven days, in addition to the current symptom criteria used to trigger quarantine, we might be able to reduce the number of otherwise asymptomatic individuals who continue to act as vectors, not realising the need to self-isolate,” dagdag pa ng mga ito.
