Best Indicator of COVID-19 – Loss of Smell

Two major international studies have documented that loss of smell is the most frequently occurring symptom in cases of COVID-19, and it often lasts for a long time. Loss of taste, as well as other senses in the mouth, also occur often.
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Findings from the Danish part of the study, which consisted of 4,500 COVID-19 patients from 23 nationalities, show that on a scale of 1-100, the average loss of the sense of smell was 79.7, indicating large to complete sensory loss. Results also showed that among patients with respiratory diseases, loss of smell was probably the best indicator of COVID-19.

Lead researcher Alexander Wieck Fjaeldstad states that it is important to be aware of this symptom as some times it may be the only one. He also stresses that out of the patients who lost their sense of smell, only half of them regained it after forty days.

"This differs from the picture we see with other viral infections and causes long-term discomfort for patients, both in relation to food and social contact, while at the same time causing them worry," he adds.

He explains that while the loss of smell removes the ability to sense an aroma in food, losing other senses simultaneously makes it more difficult to register what you're eating. Results showed that the sense of taste was also significantly reduced to 69, while the remaining sense of feeling in the mouth dropped to 37.3, both on a scale from 1-100.

"The results are in line with our own national studies and pave the way for future studies on risk factors for permanent sensory loss, along with a better understanding of the consequences of these sensory losses for the patients," Alexander continues.

Correlation between loss of the chemical senses and COVID-19 has been established in previous smaller studies, but these studies have a larger sample size from all over the world.

Source-Medindia