People who have undergone sinus surgery should avoid COVID-19 nasal swab test: Study

People who have undergone sinus surgery should avoid COVID-19 nasal swab test: Study

People who have had major sinus surgery should consult their ENT doctor before undergoing the COVID-19 swab testing, a new research suggested.

The findings of the study were published in the journal 'JAMA Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery'.

Issues include incorrect angling of the swab and inappropriate depth of insertion.

If the swab angle is too high, a puncture may occur.

The sinuses can protect the skull base to a degree, said Dr Chen.

Injury from incorrect nasopharyngeal swab technique, while rare, may include cerebrospinal fluid leakage or severe bleeding.

Polymerase chain reaction via nasopharyngeal swabs is a test frequently used to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection.