In March 2020, COVID-19 emerged as a global pandemic. Testing for presence of active SARS-CoV-2 infection is 1 pillar of the global response. In particular, nasopharyngeal, anterior nasal, and midturbinate swabs are 3 of the 5 methods for initial diagnostic specimen collection recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, complications associated with nasal swab testing are not well characterised. In this case report recently published in JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, the authors describe the first reported case of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak after nasal testing for COVID-19.
DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2020.3579