Covid-19 of the Ears, Nose, Throat, and Sinuses

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), also known as COVID-19, emerged in late 2019 and has since caused an unprecedented global pandemic. While upper respiratory symptoms are the most common manifestations of infection, some patients go on to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is the primary driver of SARS-CoV-2 associated mortality. After their infections have resolved, patients are at risk for secondary bacterial and fungal infections as well as post-COVID inflammatory syndromes. This chapter focuses on the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and postinfectious sequelae of COVID-19 in the context of otolaryngology.