In 2020, developing a change in your sense of smell and/or taste was a sign that you might have COVID-19. Now, nearly three years later, researchers have determined that about 5% of adults who report an initial change in their sense of smell or taste after contracting COVID-19 may go on to have lasting problems with those senses. .
According to the new to research of The BMJ, at least 15 million adults may suffer from long-term olfactory deficiencies, while 12 million adults may have taste problems. The research also found that only 74% of patients reported smell recovery and 79% reported taste recovery 30 days after initial infection, but recovery rates increased over the months.
The researchers looked at 18 observational studies involving almost 4,000 patients and found that women were less likely to regain their sense of smell and taste than men. Meanwhile, patients who experienced “greater initial severity of smell loss and those with nasal congestion were less likely to regain their sense of smell,” according to a press release about the study.
Additionally, the researchers believe that most patients should regain their sense of smell or taste within the first three months of infection, but “a large group of patients could develop long-lasting dysfunction that requires prompt identification, personalized treatment and long-term follow-up”. .”
Indeed, a change in taste or smell is just one of many long COVID symptoms. Loss of taste and smell can also be the result of other illnesses, such as colds, flu, and sinus infections, as well as certain medications and age. Total loss of smell (anosmia) or loss of taste (ageusia) is rare.
For those looking to proactively repair their sense of smell or taste, there’s scent training, which involves sniffing the same four scents every day, about 20 seconds for each scent, according to Absenta UK-based charity dedicated to ending disorders of smell.
As rhinologist Dr Zara Patel, professor of otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, at Stanford University School of Medicine, recently said CNN“The way I explain it to patients is that if you had a stroke and your arm didn’t work, you would go to physical therapy, you would do rehab. That’s exactly what olfactory training for your sense of smell.