Coronavirus - COVID-19 Can loss of sense of smell be a symptom of COVID-19?
Coronavirus - COVID-19 Latest Health News Symptoms
Can loss of sense of smell be a symptom of COVID-19?
Anosmia – the loss of sense of smell – has long been known to affect some people suffering from cold or flu viruses. In some cases, it becomes permanent.
And now, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists are questioning whether an unexpected loss of sense of smell could be a marker of COVID-19 infection.
Significant numbers of patients with proven COVID-19 infection, in South Korea, China, Italy and Germany, have developed anosmia (total loss of smell) or hyposmia (the reduced ability to detect smells), according to ENT experts from the UK.
President of the British Rhinological Society, Professor Claire Hopkins and President of ENT UK, Professor Nirmal Kumar, say there has been a rapidly growing number of reports of a significant increase in the number of patients presenting with anosmia in the absence of other symptoms.
In South Korea (where there has been more widespread testing), 30 per cent of patients testing positive have had anosmia as their major presenting symptom in otherwise mild cases.
"In the UK, ENT surgeons are pushing to have anosmia highlighted as an important symptom that may signify a patient may be an asymptomatic carrier", says Professor Simon Carney, immediate past president of the Australia and New Zealand Rhinologic Society.
If patients did have COVID-19 but were not suffering any other symptoms, then the loss of sense of smell may help doctors identify patients who are infected and need to isolate, thus slowing the spread of infection.
Novel coronavirus - COVID-19
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Find out how to protect yourself.
What if I have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms?
What are the symptoms of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus disease, and what should you do if you have symptoms?
Video: Anosmia
Anosmia (loss of sense of smell) can be caused from a bad dose of flu or a cold. Early treatment is the key to avoiding permanent damage.
Can a person be infectious before showing symptoms of COVID-19?
There's no question that people can be infectious before they show symptoms of COVID-19. The question is for how long?
ENT UK. Loss of sense of smell as marker of COVID-19 infection. Professor Claire Hopkins, Professor Nirmal Kumar. 21 March 2020. https://www.entuk.org/loss-sense-smell-marker-covid-19-infection