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Background: This review focuses on the frequency of symptoms in COVID-19 in comparison to SARS, influenza and common cold., Objectives: To evaluate and compare the knowledge about the clinical features, symptoms and differences between patients with COVID-19, SARS, influenza, and common cold. The research can help ear, nose and throat specialists and other health practitioners manage patients during the COVID-19 pandemic., Material and Methods: The biomedical databases used in the study included PubMed and MEDLINE. Statistical analysis using the Z-score test assessed which symptoms were more characteristic of COVID-19 than other viral diseases., Results: Among individuals with COVID-19, the most frequently reported symptoms were cough (70%), fever (45%), muscular pain (29%), and headache (21%), whereas sore throat (12%), and rhinorrhea (4%) were observed at lower rates. Fever was identified as most frequent in COVID-19 (74%), appearing at a higher rate in those cases than in influenza (68%) or the common cold (40%) (p < 0.05). In comparison to other viral diseases, sore throat was rarely reported in COVID-19 and SARS (12% and 18%, respectively) (p < 0.05). In influenza and common cold, a cough was identified in 93% and 80% of cases (p < 0.05). Headache, rhinorrhea, muscular pain, and sore throat were more common in influenza (91%, 91%, 94%, and 84%, respectively) and common cold (89%, 81%, 94%, and 84%, respectively) than in COVID-19 (21%, 4%, 29%, and 12%, respectively) and SARS (45%, 12%, 55%, and 18%, respectively) (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: The results of the analysis show that a greater number of general symptoms should lead to a diagnosis of influenza or common cold rather than COVID-19.

Introduction: According to an OECD report, food consumption changed among children and adolescents in EU countries during the pandemic, but the findings are inconclusive. The aim of the study was to analyze changes in body mass and dietary habits in a cohort of children examined just before the pandemic and again in 2022, when COVID-19 restrictions had been lifted. Material and methods: The analysis is based on selected data collected as a part of the Population Cohort Study of Wroclaw Citizens (PICTURE). This article is based on data from children, who completed the first visit until the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, that is between 21st November 2019 and the 10th of March 2020. They were invited again in 2022 for a repeated measurement. The final analysis included 108 children (54.6% girls) with complete data at both time points. Results: At the baseline, 81.5% of children had normal body weight, 12% had overweight and 2.8% had obesity. At the follow-up, 84.3% of children had normal body weight, 9.3% had overweight and 2.8% had obesity. Twenty percent (20.4%) of children reported a change in dietary habits during the pandemic. The average consumption of vegetables decreased in the children's group from 1.00 ± 0.75 servings/day to 0.90 ± 0.80 servings/day (p = 0.05). Average fruit intake decreased from 1.70 ± 1.13 servings/day to 1.45 ± 1.08 servings/day (p = 0.02). Average consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increased from 0.28 ± 0.38 servings/day to 0.44 ± 0.69 (p = 0.01). The average consumption of poultry increased from 0.39 ± 0.25 servings/day to 0.51 ± 0.50 (p = 0.05). Conclusions: During the pandemic dietary habits changed only slightly, but vegetables and fruit consumption among children and adolescents declined, while consumption of poultry and sugar-sweetened beverages increased. Consumption of vegetables, whole grains and dairy products both before and after the pandemic restrictions was lower than recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The symptoms of COVID-19 are primarily respiratory system disorders. Sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by COVID-19, as other symptoms in the nervous system. Hearing loss may also be the only symptom or complication of this disease or the symptoms of long COVID-19. The study aimed to assess hearing in patients after COVID-19 infection. Material and Methods: The study conducted ENT and full hearing assessment in COVID-19 infection. All patients underwent complete audiological diagnostics, including threshold tonal audiometry, tympanometry, otoacoustic emissions, and auditory brainstem evoked potentials (ABR) tests. The study group included 58 patients aged 23 to 75 years who were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection six months before inclusion in the present study and reported post-COVID-19 hearing impairment. Results: There were statistically significant differences between the control and study groups. Sensorineural hearing loss was found in 65.5% of the tonal audiometry test. The stapes reflex was absent in almost 20% of post-COVID-19 patients. The analysis of ABRs demonstrated longer latencies of wave III, V, and time intervals I–III, I–V in post-COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: COVID-19 can damage the inner ear as well as the auditory pathway. Hearing loss may be the only symptom of COVID-19 or be a late complication of the disease due to postinfectious inflammation of the nerve tissue as a symptom of long COVID-19. Prolonged conduction of the auditory pathway shows the affinity of the virus to the nervous system as a symptom of long COVID. It is advisable to perform hearing diagnostics in patients after COVID-19 and provide them with specialist care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID-19 clinical symptoms are primarily related to the respiratory system but may also be involved in many others, including the nervous system. Recently, vertigo or dizziness has been described as one of the clinical manifestations and possible complications of COVID-19. Materials and methods: This clinical study was designed to describe the otorhinolaryngological evaluation and videonystagmographic (VNG) findings in patients with an antecedent of COVID-19 infection in the last 6 months. In this study, we sought to investigate the presence of persistent vestibular damage in healed COVID-19 patients and to determine the origin of vertigo by conducting a comprehensive vestibular examination. To evaluate the association precisely, an otoneurological assessement was conducted on all participants. The study group included 58 patients aged 23-75 years with vertigo, who were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection 6 months before the examination. Each participant was submitted to an evaluation consisting of anamnesis, otorhinolaryngological evaluation, and VNG. Results: Spontaneous nystagmus with closed eyes was reported in 8 patients (13.8%). Positional nystagmus was observed in 15 patients (24.1%). Asymmetrical optokinetic nystagmus was observed in 18 patients (31%). A distorted record in the tracking pendulum test was present in 23 patients (39.7%). Square waves were observed in 34 COVID-19 patients (58.6%). Unilateral weakness (UW) was observed in 23 subjects (39.7%); among those with UW, 22 patients (95.7%) also demonstrated directional preponderance contralateral to the UW. Another 16 patients (27.6%) presented only directional advantage. The post-caloric recruitment was present in 38% patients. Conclusion: Patients who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 seem to be more likely to suffer from vertigo/dizziness and to compensate more slowly. COVID-19 infection may cause inner ear damage and lead to vestibular dysfunction. The role of the central nervous system in the onset of equilibrium disorders should be considered. The presence of vertigo of central origin may indicate the neurotropic effect of SARS-CoV-2 followingCOVID-19. Imbalance may be the only symptom of COVID-19 and may also be a late complication of the disease due to post-infectious inflammation of the nervous tissue. Comprehensive studies are needed to investigate whether COVID-19 can cause long-term vestibular deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute respiratory syndrome, associated with coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the most important medical and epidemic problem of today. The biggest challenge is to find an effective treatment and to reduce the need for hospitalisation. In the article, the patients with mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treated with doxycycline with significant improvement have been discussed. Doxycycline is a known antibiotic, but also an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drug, so it seems to be ideal for the treatment of COVID-19. Doxycycline, as an easily available and low-cost medication, should be considered as a COVID-19 therapy in all patients in the first days of the symptoms of a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Due to its immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and antiviral effects, it seems to be an ideal drug for patients with mild, moderate and severe disease. A large multicentre study is needed to evaluate the effects of this medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Otolaryngologists are at very high risk of COVID-19 infection while performing examination or surgery. Strict guidelines for these specialists have not already been provided, while currently available recommendations could presumably change in course of COVID-19 pandemic as the new data increases.Objectives: This study aimed to synthesize evidence concerning otolaryngology during COVID-19 pandemic. It presents a review of currently existing guidelines and recommendations concerning otolaryngological procedures and surgeries during COVID-19 pandemic, and provides a collective summary of all crucial information for otolaryngologists. It summarizes data concerning COVID-19 transmission, diagnosis, and clinical presentation highlighting the information significant for otolaryngologists.Methods: The Medline and Web of Science databases were searched without time limit using terms ''COVID-19", "SARS-CoV-2" in conjunction with "head and neck surgery", "otorhinolaryngological manifestations".Results: Patients in stable condition should be consulted using telemedicine options. Only emergency consultations and procedures should be performed during COVID-19 pandemic. Mucosa-involving otolaryngologic procedures are considered high risk procedures and should be performed using enhanced PPE (N95 respirator and full face shield or powered air-purifying respirator, disposable gloves, surgical cap, gown, shoe covers). Urgent surgeries for which there is not enough time for SARS-CoV-2 screening are also considered high risk procedures. These operations should be performed in a negative pressure operating room with high-efficiency particulate air filtration. Less urgent cases should be tested for COVID-19 twice, 48 h preoperatively in 24 h interval.Conclusions: This review serves as a collection of current recommendations for otolaryngologists for how to deal with their patients during COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]