{"id":18588,"date":"2021-02-15T09:30:45","date_gmt":"2021-02-15T14:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=18588"},"modified":"2021-11-22T11:37:11","modified_gmt":"2021-11-22T16:37:11","slug":"loss-of-taste-and-smell-coronavirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/loss-of-taste-and-smell-coronavirus\/","title":{"rendered":"How to regain taste and smell after coronavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: As experts learn more about the novel coronavirus, news and information changes. For the latest on the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the<\/span><\/i> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Fever, body aches, and a dry cough are hallmark symptoms of COVID-19; the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Two other neurological symptoms have been so widely reported that they are sometimes considered the most reliable early indicator of infection: loss of smell (anosmia) and taste (ageusia). But what is the prevalence of this odd side effect? How long does it typically last? Are there other ailments that can cause these symptoms? Read on to find the answers to these questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

How common is loss of taste and smell from coronavirus?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Around 74% of COVID-19 patients lose their sense of smell, according to <\/span>one study<\/span><\/a>. Many also lose their sense of taste\u2014likely because taste and aromas are interconnected. In other words, loss of taste and smell is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19. Often, it\u2019s one of the first noticeable signs that a person may have contracted the <\/span>coronavirus<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor decades, physicians have known that respiratory tract viral infections are the most common reason for an acute loss of sense of smell,\u201d says <\/span>Javeed Siddiqui MD, MPH, the chief medical officer at <\/span>TeleMed2U<\/span><\/a>. \u201cWith the recent pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, a number of epidemiological studies have demonstrated that infection with SARS-CoV-2 is associated with higher rates of anosmia (or loss of smell) then previously seen with other viral infections.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is some evidence<\/span><\/a> that loss of taste and smell may be more common with mild to moderate forms of the disease, as opposed to severe cases. Only 26.9% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 reported anosmia, while 66.7% of COVID-19 infections treated as outpatients reported the symptom, <\/span>according to UC San Diego Health<\/span><\/a>. Similar percentages were found for loss of taste.<\/span><\/p>\n

How does coronavirus cause loss of taste and smell?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Scientists are still learning how COVID-19 causes taste and smell dysfunction, though they suspect it involves the nervous system. Researchers at Harvard Medical School believe they have identified the cell types in the olfactory bulb (found in the upper nasal cavity) that are most vulnerable to infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and they recently <\/span>published their results<\/span><\/a>. \u201cTo better understand the rationale for anosmia (or loss of smell), we first need to discuss that the lining of the nose is made up of cells called olfactory epithelium (OE),\u201d Dr. Siddiqui says. \u201cThe primary role of the OE is odor detection.\u201d As Dr. Siddiqui explains, the primary site of infection for the virus that causes COVID-19 is the nasopharynx, which is the upper part of the throat, behind the nose.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that SARS-CoV-2 uses the ACE2 receptor (a protein on the surface of many cell types) to gain entry in different cells in the body,\u201d Dr. Siddiqui explains. \u201cThe Harvard research group has found that specialized cells within the olfactory epithelium express ACE2 receptors in high frequency. As such the probable reason for loss of smell is due to direct infection of the olfactory epithelium cells by SARS-CoV-2.\u201d In other words, COVID-19 does not directly infect the sensory neurons that carry smells to the brain. It affects how the supporting cells function.<\/span><\/p>\n

The mechanism by which the SARS-CoV-2 virus causes loss of smell and taste may be complicated, but if you are experiencing a loss of these senses it helps to be aware of the <\/span>other common symptoms of COVID-19 infection<\/span><\/a> which include:<\/span><\/p>\n