Q: I’ve lost my sense of smell and taste. Do I have coronavirus?
A: In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the primary symptoms reported were fever, cough and shortness of breath. As we have learned more and more about COVID-19, we have found more symptoms related to this disease.
For instance, there is a strong link between loss of smell and/or taste and COVID-19. In late April, these were added to the list of common symptoms for the novel coronavirus by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While it is typical for people to experience this symptom with many upper respiratory infections, including the common cold, it seems to be particularly prevalent in COVID-19 patients. Many people who test positive for the novel coronavirus have complained of this loss.
Smell/taste loss can be one of the first – or only – signs of disease in COVID-19 infected persons. It has even been suggested that this symptom could be used as a screening tool, since it appears so early in the infection. If you are experiencing loss of smell/taste, it is important to talk to your doctor about it, especially if it coincides with symptoms more commonly associated with COVID-19, such as shortness of breath or fever.
While it is not known exactly what causes the loss of smell in COVID-19 patients, it is most likely because the receptors for COVID-19 are most commonly expressed in the nasal cavity, causing an inflammatory reaction inside the nose, resulting in loss of smell. The ability to taste is tied to the ability to smell, resulting in the loss of that sense as well.