Subjective smell and taste changes during the COVID-19 pandemic: Short term recovery

Abstract

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many individuals have reported acute loss of smell and taste. In order to better characterize all patients with these symptoms, a longitudinal national survey was created. Since April 10, 2020, 549 completed the initial survey, with 295 completing 14-day, and 202 completing 1-month follow up surveys. At 1-month follow-up, 71.8% reported a return to "very good" or "good" smell, and 84.2% reported a return to "very good" or "good" taste. Chemosensory changes are a cardinal sign of COVID-19. Fortunately, our data, representing a large longitudinal study of patients experiencing smell and taste losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, indicates that the majority appear to recover within a month.

COVID-19 survivorship: How otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons can restore quality of life after critical illness

“…SARS-CoV-2 entry is mediated via Angiotensin Coverting Enyzme 2 (ACE-2) and Transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS-2) receptors present throughout the olfactory cleft, with associated inflammatory disruption of the nervous system via nasal olfactory fibers [ 17 ]. Symptoms often persist for 4–6 weeks, affecting patients' overall quality of life [ [18] , [19] , [20] ]. While early studies demonstrate a high rate of spontaneous resolution, the residual 10% with persistent olfactory dysfunction underscore the tremendous need for improved treatment options [ 21 ].…”

Dietary Approach for Post-COVID Treatment of Olfactory Loss

“…The loss and dysfunction of olfaction due to SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to recover within weeks [5]. However, many studies have identified long-term complications of olfaction [4,6]. Clinical studies have observed elevated levels of pro-inflammatory TNF-α in the olfactory epithelium of COVID-19 positive individuals [9].…”

“…A retrospective review across 169 COVID-19 patients by Yan et al [3] reported outpatient care to be strongly and independently associated with anosmia (the complete loss of smell). Agyeman et al [4] further reported 41% of 8438 COVID- 19 positive individuals experienced olfactory dysfunction. For the majority of individuals who experience distortions in olfaction, they tend to recover this sense within a month [5].…”

“…However, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the sense of smell can be impaired for longer periods of time after infection. Postviral olfactory complications have been implicated in 40% of adult anosmia cases; COVID-19 accounting for 10-15% of cases [4]. In a six-month follow-up self-report study, Hopkins et al [6] reported a prevalence of parosmia (distortions of the sense of smell) across 43.1% of their 177 patients with a median interval of 2.5 months (range 0-6).…”

A cross-sectional seroprevalence for COVID-19 among healthcare workers in a tertially care hospital in Taiwan

“…After participants signed the informed consent, a self-administered structured questionnaire were collected, including age, sex, underlying diseases, possible hospital associated risk factors, community associated risk factors, travel history, possible COVID-19 associated symptoms (fever, cough, taste or olfactory change). 7 , 8 The hospital associated risk factors were defined as working at COVID-19 ward, or short distance taking care of COVID-19 patients (defined as <1.5 m), or perform oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swab sampling for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients. The community associated risk factors were defined as recent clinic visit within 3 months, family/friends with possible COVID-19 associated symptoms (fever, cough, taste or olfactory change) within 3 months, or family with international travel history.…”