Celebrating a Milestone: North Thames CRN Specialty Research Lead Award
Celebrating a Milestone North Thames CRN Specialty Research Lead Award
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Anosmia as presenting symptom of SARS-Cov-2 infection in healthcare workers
Background: Healthcare workers are at the forefront of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and are at high risk for both the contraction and subsequent spread of virus. Understanding the role of anosmia as an early symptom of infection may improve monitoring and management of SARS-CoV2 infection. Methodology: We conducted a systematic review of the literature of SARS-CoV2 infection/COVID-19 and anosmia to help inform management of anosmia in healthcare works. We report a case series of healthcare workers, who presented with a loss of sense of smell secondary to COVID-19 infection to demonstrate management principles. RT-PCR was used to confirm COVID-19 positivity and psychophysical testing of olfaction was performed using the British version of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test, UPSIT. Results: The systematic literature search returned 31 articles eligible for inclusion in the study and informed our recommendations for clinical assessment and management. All three healthcare professionals who presented with loss of sense of smell subsequently tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Psychophysical testing of olfaction using the UPSIT confirmed mild and moderate microsmia in two, respectively, and normosmia at day 17 in one. Conclusions: Olfactory (± gustatory) dysfunction is indicative of COVID-19 infection and thus has important implications in the context of healthcare workers, or key workers in general, who work in close contact with others if not recognised as suffering from COVID. This leads to a potentially higher likelihood of spreading the virus. In conjunction with our literature review these findings have helped with creating recommendations on the assessment and management of olfactory dysfunction during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, both for healthcare workers and patients.
How Fit is Your Hearing?
As a prominent researcher in the field of hearing loss I would highly recommend Katherine's blog and it is so valuable to change the way we talk about hearing loss.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: Management and Its Impact on Falls
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of dizziness in the elderly. This has been identified as a risk factor in falls. Falls are the leading cause of disability and the leading cause of death from injury among people over 75 in the UK.
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR SKULL BASE/ PETROUS APEX LESIONS - REVIEW ARTICLE
Illustrations and Captions: Fig. 1: Surgical Approaches to the skull base
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR SKULL BASE
Surgeons approach lesions of the skull base with understandable reluctance. The problems being surgical inaccessibility, the obstacles of vital neural and vascular anatomy and the overwhelming surgical mortality rate as a result of haemorrhage and sepsis. There has been a technical revolution in microsurgery, anaesthesia and neurodiagnosis. Armed with technology surgery has become the mainstay in management of these dreaded lesions.
Recognize the Signs and Symptoms of an Ear Infection
One of the most common illnesses that a child can develop is an ear infection . However, while they are more common in children, adults can still develop them – and when this happens, they can be more serious. In adults, ear infections must be monitored closely and diagnosed by an ENT doctor early to avoid complications as a result.
Can Losing Weight Cure Sleep Apnea?
Have you been waking up with headaches in the morning? Do you constantly feel exhausted even when you thought you were getting a great night of rest? If so, you may be suffering from a condition known as sleep apnea. Your partner may have also noticed the signs of this while you were asleep. What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea
Do you need a CPAP device?
There is never anything more exhausting than waking up with a headache, feeling like you've never slept. If this is happening to you, you may need to speak to a doctor about sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder whereby your breathing stops on and off through the night. Snoring loudly and feeling unusually tired after