Smell did not return to a quarter of patients with Covid after 2 months

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Nearly a quarter of patients who suffered coronavirus olfactory losses did not see him return two months later, according to a new study

  • The researchers examined data from 2,581 patients from 18 European hospitals
  • 24.1% revealed that they did not regain the smell or taste within 60 days of infection
  • But the senses returned to 95% of patients six months after infection

By Joe Pinkstone for Mailonline

Posted: | Updated:

Loss of sense of smell and taste are common symptoms of Covid-19 and new data show that it affects 86% of people with mild cases.

However, only 4.5% of people with moderate cases and 6.9% in severe cases to critics claim to have these symptoms.

The study by Saclay University in Paris also reveals that for a quarter of people (24.1%) smell and taste do not return within 60 days of infection.

But the vast majority (95%) of all patients regain their sense of smell six months after infection.

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The study by the University of Paris Saclay reveals that for almost a quarter of people (24.1%) the smell and taste did not return to 60 days after infection

The study by the University of Paris Saclay reveals that for almost a quarter of people (24.1%) the smell and taste did not return to 60 days after infection

Figures vary depending on whether the symptom is reported by the patient himself or by the physician.

Objective clinical evaluations found odor loss in 54.7% of mild COVID-19 cases and in 36.6% of moderate to critical COVID-19 cases.

And two months later, nearly a quarter of patients still suffered from lack of smell, also known as anosmia.

The researchers examined anonymous data from more than 2,000 people at 18 different European hospitals.

Objective clinical evaluations found odor loss in 54.7% of mild COVID-19 cases and in 36.6% of moderate to critical COVID-19 cases. Researchers found olfactory dysfunction in more than half of mild virus infections (stock)

Objective clinical evaluations found odor loss in 54.7% of mild COVID-19 cases and in 36.6% of moderate to critical cases of COVID-19. Researchers found olfactory dysfunction in more than half of mild virus infections (stock)

What is anemia?

Anosmia is the medical name of a condition in which someone suffers a total or partial loss of their sense of smell and / or taste.

The most common cause of the disease (temporary or permanent) is diseases that affect the nose or paranasal sinuses, such as polyps that grow in the airways, fractures of bones or cartilage, hay fever, or tumors.

It is different from hyposmia, which is a decrease in sensitivity to some or all odors.

About 3.5 million people in the UK are affected by the disease, along with almost 10 million in the US. It is surprisingly common and affects between three and five percent of people.

Head injuries and diseases of the nervous system such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s can also contribute to the disease by damaging the nerves in the nose that are responsible for detecting odors.

Professor Jerome Lechien, lead author of the study at Saclay University in Paris, said: “Olfactory dysfunction is more common in mild forms of COVID-19 than in moderate to critical forms, and 95% of patients they regain their sense of smell six months after infection. ”

The researchers found that the average time of this “olfactory dysfunction” reported by patients was 21.6 days.

Young patients may have a higher rate of anosmia compared to the elderly, scientists said.

Professor Lechien added: “At two months of follow-up, 75% to 85% of patients recovered their sense of smell according to subjective and objective olfactory assessments.

‘The main hypothesis underlying the higher prevalence of anemia in mild COVID-19 would be differences in the immune response to infection in mild to moderate to critical patients.

“Future studies are needed to determine the long-term recovery rate of patients with COVID-19.”

Study subjects were tested with 16 olfactory pens and analyzed for 30 and 60 days, after six months after the initial infection.

Mild patients were defined as those with no evidence of viral pneumonia or hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and were generally recovered at home, while severe cases were taken to hospital.

The study was published today in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

Young patients with COVID-19 are MORE likely to lose their sense of smell and taste than the elderly

A new study has found that younger people with COVID-19 lose their sense of smell and taste than older patients.

Irish researchers examined 46 infected patients who were asked to evaluate changes in their smell, known as anosmia, and taste, known as ageusia.

About half of the participants experienced olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions, which is a known symptom of the infectious disease.

But, although older people are generally more vulnerable to other effects of COVID-19, younger patients were more likely to experience anemia and ageusia.

Loss of smell and taste may appear in young patients rather than more significant symptoms such as cough and fever.

Despite this, people have to isolate themselves if they lose their sense of smell or taste because it is an officially recognized symptom of the disease.

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