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We already know with certainty that COVID-19 can cause symptoms such as loss of taste and smell. And although most convalescents quickly regain their lost senses, there are those who struggle with dysosmia for a long time, that is, impairment or a change in the sense of olfactory sensations.
- The number of COVID-19 patients experiencing parosmia (the perception of fake odors) is unknown, but it is estimated that hundreds of thousands suffered from anosmia (complete lack of smell).
- Tap water, toothpaste, and coffee seem to stink so much they make you vomit
- There are no medications available for COVID-19-induced olfactory disorders
Loss of smell in COVID-19
The widespread belief that coronavirus-induced olfactory blindness will not last long is incorrect, says Professor Claire Hopkins, president of the British Rhinology Society (BRS). – Of course, there is a good chance of a quick recovery, but many people lose their sense of smell or the ability to distinguish between certain smells for a long time. And yet smell plays an important role in remembering, it creates moods and emotions, so people suffering from smell dysfunction feel isolated.
Complete loss of smell from COVID-19 (anosmia) occurs when the virus damages the tissues and nerve endings in the nose. On the other hand, when the nerves begin to regenerate, parosmia, which is the perception of false smells, may occur.
The condition is usually associated with colds or sinus problems and head injuries. People with parosmia most often smell burnt, cigarette smoke, or rotting meat, which can even make you vomit.
Although parosmia is a sign that the sense of smell returns, it can last for years in some cases. In the case of disturbing symptoms or persistent symptoms, the answer to the patient’s doubts may be a teleconsultation with a doctor.
Complications after COVID-19. When even the tap water stinks
Kate McHenry, 37, a British woman from Widnes, suffered from the coronavirus in March. The symptoms were not bothersome, but for a month after their disappearance, she felt nothing at all. In mid-June, “the food started to taste strange” and all the smells were replaced by “a terrible chemical odor”. Kate’s life has changed beyond recognition. She is full of anxiety, has lost weight and, above all, longs for the pleasure of eating and drinking. The problem is serious, the woman stopped going out to restaurants with friends, because she perceives all culinary smells as a terrible stench.
“Meat tastes like gasoline and prosecco is like rotting apples,” says Kate. “When my boyfriend Craig eats curry, I can smell a terrible smell from every pore of his skin, so I try to stay away from him.
Kate also hates the aromas emanating from her private kitchen.
– When my boyfriend prepares a meal and asks what I want, I feel terrible because I have no appetite for anything – he adds: – Everything tastes terrible anyway.
Besides, Kate has the impression that regular tap water stinks, which is why the daily toilet is a torment for her.
– I used to love the bouquet of my hair shampoo – he complains – but now it’s the most disgusting fragrance in the world.
See also: A moving post by a doctor suffering from COVID-19. «I stayed in solitary for four weeks»
Pasquale Hester, who lives in Leeds, brushes her teeth with salt that her sense of taste interprets normally. Using a traditional toothpaste, she vomited. COVID-19 deprived her of her sense of smell, and things didn’t start to improve until a few weeks after she recovered.
However, while eating her birthday curry in June, the woman realized there was a strange smell to it.
“I took a bite of the papada and spat it out right now because it tasted like paint,” she says. – Coffee, onions and garlic are the worst, I can only swallow sugar peas and cheese without disgust. The loss of smell completely surprised me – he adds. – I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.
Law student Brooke Jones fell ill in April. Now almost everything smells like “rotting meat mixed with the smell of the farm” to her. The 20-year-old has a list of “safe foods” that includes waffles, cucumbers and tomatoes. Everything else more or less reeks.
“I can imagine what a particular dish tastes like,” says Brooke. – So when I eat Chinese I tell myself it’s not that bad.
Zobacz: Young people talk about how they contracted COVID-19. «So far I can’t breathe normally»
Brits with smell problems find it difficult to obtain professional help. There are no medications for parosmia and only in extreme cases anti-epileptic drugs can be prescribed.
‘We need to educate healthcare professionals to better understand the mental and physical effects of a loss of smell,’ says Professor Claire Hopkins. – Probably most family doctors have never encountered something like anosmia.
Patients receive help and support from the AbScent charity, which has set up a Facebook group for people suffering from COVID-19-related olfactory disorders. A guide has been developed detailing what foods to eat and how to train your sense of smell. The group also serves people suffering from anosmia and parosmia who want to explain their situation to others.
“When I try to explain what is happening to me, some people joke that at least I don’t smell bad smells,” says Brooke Jones. – I know that the effects of the coronavirus could have been much worse, but what happened to me is really scary. Besides, no one can tell me when and if it will be better.
Smell and taste disturbances may or may not be related to COVID-19. Confirmation of the current infection requires an RT-PCR test for coronavirus.
The editorial board recommends:
- Why do coronavirus patients lose their sense of smell? Scientists found the cause
- Prof. Butowt: up to 90 percent patients with COVID-19 exhibit changes in smell and taste
- How to distinguish COVID-19 from influenza. Expert: helpful fragrance test, can be done at home
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