What loss of smell says about the course of COVID-19: the opinion of scientists
'25.01.2021'
Source: Yellmed.ru
Most likely, patients who have stopped smelling will not need hospitalization, writes Yellmed.ru.
This is evidenced by a study conducted by specialists from the United States.
The study is based on data from more than 2,5 thousand people who have had coronavirus infection. Experts found that 55% of participants with mild COVID-19 symptoms lost their sense of smell. The loss of smell lasted 22 days on average.
For comparison, patients with moderate and critical disease were less likely to report inability to smell - 37% and 6,9%, respectively.
“The ability to smell is not only related to the enjoyment of life - it is critical for detecting danger, such as smoke from fires, toxic fumes, the smell of tainted food,” the study authors note.
On the subject: How COVID-19 loss of smell and taste is different from cold and flu
Scientists emphasize that the loss of smell is not due to nasal congestion, as with other seasonal respiratory diseases. However, the mechanism by which COVID-19 affects the olfactory nerves has not been established.
The researchers believe that patients with mild disease may have higher levels of antibodies that inhibit the spread of COVID-19 through the nose.
