Corona and anosmia: sense of taste returns after around 30 days

Created: 08/08/2022, 12:45 p.m

By: Judith Brown

Many corona infected people suffer from the loss of their sense of smell and taste.

However, this lasts for a shorter time than previously thought.

The loss of the sense of taste and smell is one of the most well-known symptoms of a corona infection.

During the waves of infection with the alpha and delta variants of Sars-CoV-2, a particularly large number of people suffered from anosmia.

Half of all Covid 19 patients are probably affected by the loss of taste and smell.

It can be very stressful for patients if they can no longer smell their morning coffee or taste stimulants such as chocolate.

The fear often arises that this condition could last longer.

Fortunately, according to the results of a meta-analysis in which the average duration of anosmia after a corona infection was examined, this fear is unfounded in most cases.

Corona and anosmia: sense of taste returns after around 30 days

The evaluation of a study on the duration of anosmia after Corona showed that most of those affected recovered from the disorders within 30 days.

(Iconic image) © Emma Innocenti/IMAGO

So far, the prognosis for those affected by anosmia has not been exactly positive.

A study by the European Rhinologic Society

from 2021, around half of those affected still suffered from loss of taste and smell a year after infection, with seven percent no longer being able to perceive smells and tastes at all.

However, a recent meta-analysis gives hope.

The study, published in the specialist journal BMJ, showed that only five percent suffered from anosmia for a long time.

However, in most patients, the sense of smell and taste return relatively soon.

The scientists from Singapore had data from 4,000 participants from 18 observational studies at their disposal for their analysis.

With the help of surveys, data on the subjective perception of the restrictions on smell and taste were collected and examined.

Only one of the studies included a smell test.

However, the evaluation showed that most of those affected recovered from the disorders within 30 days.

According to this, 74.1 percent of the study participants noticed an improvement in their sense of taste and 78.8 percent of the patients noticed an improvement in their sense of taste.

After 90 days, 90 percent could smell again and 90.3 percent could taste.

The average duration of the odor disturbance was around 15 days and the duration of the taste disturbance was 12.4 days on average.

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Corona: cause of anosmia after Covid-19 infection

How the sense of taste and smell is disturbed has been the subject of research since the beginning of the pandemic.

According to the current state of research, the corona virus damages the nerve cells in the nose.

Olfactory cells are no longer sufficiently supplied with nutrients, which limits the sense of smell.

As a result, the sense of taste also suffers.

This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication.

In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor.

Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.