We have detected since the beginning of the pandemic on several occasions that SARS-CoV-2 produces a partial or total loss of smell in a very significant number of patients.
Sometimes the alteration of smell precedes the other symptoms of COVID-19, sometimes it is the only symptom present.
Can it be damaged forever?
In 90% of cases the sense of smell recovers within the first month after elimination of the virus. However, in a smaller percentage of patients, the loss of smell may persist for weeks or months.
Not enough time has passed yet to be able to conclude if the problem may be definitive, since with other viruses we have seen recovery of smell up to 2 years later.
How is it clinically detected if we have lost our sense of smell?
People usually notice an alteration in the perception of the taste of food and everyday smells such as perfumes, flowers, drinks, food, smoke or gas.
However, many times the patient is not aware of the loss of smell and we detect it with a test (olfactometry).
Is there any treatment to recover the sense of smell?
The sense of smell has a particularity and that is that its cells have the capacity to regenerate. We currently perform a rehabilitation therapy or olfactory training with essences, which has proven to be effective in recovering the sense of smell due to different causes including post-viral anosmia.