A well-known COVID-19 red signal is new-onset Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunction (OGD). Despite this, its clinical, virological, and serological characteristics are still up for discussion. In this cohort research, 170 patients with new-onset OGD were recruited in a systematic manner. At baseline and after one (T1), two (T2), and four weeks, otolaryngological examinations, OGD subjective grading, nasopharyngeal swabs (NS) for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection, and serum samples collection for SARS-CoV-2 IgG quantification were performed (T3). Infection with SARS-CoV-2 was found in 79 percent of the patients. Specifically, SS analysis was used to discover 43% of positive individuals. In 10% of instances, the OGD was the only clinical symptom. 45 percent of patients said they had Sino nasal symptoms at the same time. At T3, 97 percent of patients reported subjective improvement, with 40 percent fully recovering. The only characteristics linked to OGD severity were hormonal abnormalities and RNA detectability in NS. Patients with systemic involvement and severe OGD had a poorer recovery rate after receiving seasonal influenza immunization. Recovery was not linked to RNA levels or IgG titers. Clinical, virological, and serological aspects of COVID-19-related OGD were tracked throughout time, providing useful insights into the link between host traits and chemosensory dysfunctions for future research.
