In December 2019, a new type of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) spread from China to all around the world. Chest imaging has emerged as a valuable tool for the workup of COVID-19, notably for triaging symptomatic patients to COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 units in anticipation of the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results. The findings observed on computed tomography (CT) in this context are highly sensitive, but they are not specific for this pathology. Chest CT most frequently reveals bilateral multilobar ground-glass opacities with a peripheral or posterior distribution. A correlation has been demonstrated between the radiological extent and evolution of chest findings and the clinical course of the disease. CT lesions may precede the onset of symptoms, which confirms the high sensitivity of this technique. This literature review was aimed at highlighting the usefulness of chest imaging in the diagnosis of COVID-19, which exhibits typical and less typical CT features, as well as radiological severity criteria, and in the triaging of patients.

In this article, we sought to describe and analyze the interventions and experiences of a subgroup of psychologists from the psychology department of the Saint-Luc University Hospital, who rapidly stepped in to support care units receiving COVID-19 patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides the setting up of a call center and speech groups aimed at relieving staff members, psychologists collectively and voluntarily decided to immerse themselves into these care units in order to support staff members, patients, and families overwhelmed by the strength of the crisis. Behavioral and psychological alarm signs in care unit staff members and psychologists themselves need to be considered and cared for. At the end of the article, a testimony of the involved psychologists provides an insight into the reality of the crisis.

COVID-19, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, induces in 5 to 15% of cases a severe phenotype with bilateral pneumonia, sometimes complicated by an acute respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory failure. Patients present with lymphopenia and possibly neutrophilia, which are of prognostic relevance. In addition, some patients develop immune overactivation, which is associated with a cytokine storm and a poor prognosis. Although the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, the virus’ ability to escape immune mechanisms could play an important role. An improved understanding of the disease immunopathology should help defining a precision medicine to treat COVID-19 patients based on predictive (or early) biomarkers of severity.

Although fever, respiratory symptoms, cough, and fatigue were initially considered as the leading symptoms of COVID-19 infection, it has now become evident that patients often report ear, nose, and throat (ENT) symptoms. Notably, we are currently facing an outbreak of olfactory dysfunction along with the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the World Health Organization states that this symptom is less common, several studies have demonstrated that this symptom is often observed, and that anosmia may even constitute the only complaint of SARS-CoV-2 carriers in some cases. Consequently, it is now admitted that patients with isolated sudden anosmia and no nasal obstruction should be considered as potential COVID-19 patients. Hence, this symptom should motivate the initiation of quarantine and use of appropriate personal protective equipment for attending medical teams.

As SARS-CoV-2 has a tropism for ENT mucosa and given that ENT procedures may generate aerosolization, ENT examination is a procedure with a particularly high risk of transmission for medical doctors. Therefore, adequate personal protective equipment should be employed when performing ENT examination. Moreover, it is advised to limit procedures leading to aerosolization as much as possible, as well as to adapt ENT surgical techniques during the pandemic.

This paper has reviewed the ENT symptoms possibly related to COVID-19 infection, with a particular focus on anosmia. We have also provided a reminder concerning good clinical practice recommendations in the ENT setting.