Loss of Smell and Taste symptom of Covid-19??

 CAN LOSS OF SMELL AND TASTE WOULD BE A SYMPTOM OF COVID??

In the recent times , Many of us  have problem of losing of smell and taste and can’t even taste the food and be in a chaos that is this a symptom of covid-19,Don’t worry even I had the same issue in the beginning and it healed naturally . I have been gone through a chaos of being affected by Covid ,but after this topic of loss of smell was in a meme post and more than hundreds have commented that they too have the same problem, then I was like thank god I am not the only one.

Lets look through the reason behind it ;

Temporary loss of smell, anosmia, and taste, ageusia, are two symptoms that can differentiate COVID-19 from the common cold and flu, according to a new statement by the US Surgeon General Jerome Adams, MD, MPH.¹ These two symptoms are also some of the earliest and most commonly reported indicators of COVID-19 and may better predict positivity compared with other symptoms such as fever and cough.

COVID-19 patients are 27 times more likely to experience the loss of smell, but only around 2.2 to 2.6 times more likely to have fever, cough, or respiratory difficulty, compared to those without COVID-19. An average of 47% (up to 80%) of people who test positive for COVID-19 can have subjective complaints of smell or taste loss.² That percentage rises when these patients are tested using objective methods that measure the function of smell. Most patients first notice problems with their sense of smell; however, because smell is necessary to taste flavor, the symptoms are often connected.

 

 COMMON SYMPTOMS OF COVID

 COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization.

Most common symptoms:

• fever
• dry cough
• tiredness
• Less common symptoms:
• aches and pains
• sore throat
• diarrhoea
• conjunctivitis
• headache
• loss of taste or smell
• a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes
• Serious symptoms:
• difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• chest pain or pressure
• loss of speech or movement

 Test for loss of smell and taste

Smell. Find something that has a strong, characteristic smell. Foods may be a good option here, such as coffee beans, cinnamon, or fresh garlic. You can also choose to use non-food items like baby powder or a scented candle.

Taste. Locate foods with different taste characteristics. Some good examples include things like chocolate (sweet), citrus (sour), coffee (bitter), and pretzels (salty).

The  patients with  loss of taste/smell due to COVID-19 includes the following guidelines :

 

Patients with an isolated loss of smell for less than three months may be managed by their general physician, and referral to an ENT after three months is recommended.

Smell training should be recommended for all patients with loss of smell persisting for more than two weeks.

An MRI of the brain is not recommended for patients with a loss of smell associated with COVID‐19 infection regardless of the duration of the loss of smell.

Olfactory training is recommended for patients who experience a loss of smell for more than two weeks.

Final statement about smell and Taste issues:

In addition to COVID-19, there are many other factors that can cause you to lose your sense of smell or taste. These can include:

• smoking
• other upper respiratory infections, such as colds, the flu, or sinus infections
• allergies
• nasal polyps
• a head injury
• neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s disease
• medications, such as some types of blood pressure medications, antibiotics, or antihistamines
• hormonal changes due to conditions like hypothyroidism or Cushing’s syndrome
• surgeries impacting the mouth, nose, or throat, such as sinus surgery or removal of wisdom teeth
• radiation treatment for cancers in the head or neck 

So don't jump into conclusions by symptoms check the above reasons or still you have doubts better clear your mind with a doctor, stay home and stay safe .