These COVID-19 symptoms can stay with you for years. Women are more at risk

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been going on for its third year, scientists are still researching the long-term effects of the disease and making more discoveries. The last ones concern disturbances and loss of taste and smell. For millions of people around the world, the problem can last for months, years … And while researchers emphasize that “recovery even after many years remains possible,” Stanford University rhinologist Dr. Zara Patel warns that we may be dealing with a “new health crisis.” public ». Here are the reasons.

1. It is estimated that at least 27 million people worldwide have experienced long-term loss of smell or taste. “The real number of people affected is probably much higher”
2. Dr.Zara Patel: Having So Many Million People Now With Impaired Smell, May Just Be A New Public Health Crisis
3. Findings show that women are particularly affected by persistent olfactory dysfunction
4. Patients with “persistent dysfunction” of the sense of taste and smell are less likely to recover.
5. But scientists believe that “recovery even after many years remains possible”
6. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

COVID-19 Complication Could Spell “New Crisis”

Long COVID-19, long covid, or long-lasting symptoms of coronavirus infection, are attracting more and more attention from the world of science and medicine. Researchers are concerned about the “tendency to reappear even months after recovery”. What is also worrying is the magnitude of the symptoms that are associated with long-term COVID (there are already over 200 of them now) and their consequences.

One of the complications of developing COVID-19 is disturbance or loss of sense of smell or taste. In the first period of the pandemic, it was one of the most characteristic signals of coronavirus infection. While three-quarters of those affected have regained these senses within 30 days, millions struggle with “persistent dysfunction” at least six months after suffering COVID-19. The problem affects about 27 million people worldwide, estimate the authors of a study recently published in «The BMJ» (a peer-reviewed journal of the British Medical Association).

“Having now so many millions of people with impaired olfactory ability might just be a new public health crisis,” warned Dr. Zara Patel, a Stanford rhinologist at Stanford University, who was not involved in the study (rhinology deals with diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses), warned NBCN News.

Loss of smell and taste for years, less chance of recovery

The study included data on the perception of smells from nearly 3,7 thousand. patients from North America, Asia and Europe. Analyzes showed that 74 percent. of sick people, the sense returned after about 30 days, on the 90th day this percentage was already 90%. After six months, about 96 percent. patients found that they were able to smell odors again.

Unfortunately, about 5 percent. of people reported “persistent dysfunction” six months after being infected with the coronavirus. It’s about 27 million. people in the world. Moreover, as the analysis is based on studies using self-reported data, “the true number of people affected is probably much higher than our estimate,” says study author Prof. Song Tar Toh. Dr.Zara Patel suspects that the true rate of olfactory dysfunction among people who have experienced COVID-19 may exceed 20%. Interestingly, women were less likely to regain their senses of taste and smell.

The study also suggests that patients with “persistent dysfunction” of these senses are less likely to recover. “Nevertheless, recovery even after many years remains possible,” emphasize the researchers, citing earlier findings regarding post-viral loss of smell. “Therefore, patients with COVID-19 should be followed for a long time,” the researchers emphasize.

Millions of people with no sense of taste or smell. “They are desperate”

It is worth being aware of the consequences of life without the possibility of experiencing smells and tastes. Prior to the pandemic, these disorders were usually overlooked by clinicians. This was probably because, compared to sight and hearing, they did not seem so important to the quality of life. Today, “patients and doctors may realize that these are serious problems that may adversely affect the quality of life, personal and social functioning, mental health, general health” – emphasize the authors of the study.

It is now clear that people who are unable to sense smells and tastes may have higher rates of mental illness, depression and anxiety. “People can also experience anorexia, an aversion to food”, which in turn leads to malnutrition and exhaustion of the body.

Patients «are distraught when they lose their sense of smell. It is such an important part of our daily life and what makes us human (…) The most common thing I hear is that it leads to social isolation and a sense of detachment from society and the world they know » – Dr Aria Jafari, rhinologist says about her patients.

The doctor points out one more problem. Many patients also describe disturbing states when they finally begin to smell. “They smell things that are not there – such as burnt rubber or smoke – or experience abnormally unpleasant odors,” notes the doctor. The authors of the study emphasize that this issue requires further investigation, “because persistent odor is probably more worrisome than lack of smell”.

We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time Joanna Kozłowska, author of the book High Sensitivity. A Guide for Those Who Feel Too Much »says that high sensitivity is not a disease or dysfunction – it’s just a set of characteristics that affect the way you perceive and perceive the world. What are the genetics of WWO? What are the perks of being highly sensitive? How to act with your high sensitivity? You will find out by listening to the latest episode of our podcast.