Siddiqui explains, the primary site of infection for the virus that causes COVID-19 is the nasopharynx, which is the upper part of the throat, behind the nose. “The primary role of the OE is odor detection.” As Dr. “To better understand the rationale for anosmia (or loss of smell), we first need to discuss that the lining of the nose is made up of cells called olfactory epithelium (OE),” Dr. Researchers at Harvard Medical School believe they have identified the cell types in the olfactory bulb (found in the upper nasal cavity) that are most vulnerable to infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and they recently published their results. Scientists are still learning how COVID-19 causes taste and smell dysfunction, though they suspect it involves the nervous system. How does coronavirus cause loss of taste and smell? Similar percentages were found for loss of taste. Only 26.9% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 reported anosmia, while 66.7% of COVID-19 infections treated as outpatients reported the symptom, according to UC San Diego Health.

There is some evidence that loss of taste and smell may be more common with mild to moderate forms of the disease, as opposed to severe cases. “With the recent pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, a number of epidemiological studies have demonstrated that infection with SARS-CoV-2 is associated with higher rates of anosmia (or loss of smell) then previously seen with other viral infections.” “For decades, physicians have known that respiratory tract viral infections are the most common reason for an acute loss of sense of smell,” says Javeed Siddiqui MD, MPH, the chief medical officer at TeleMed2U. Often, it’s one of the first noticeable signs that a person may have contracted the coronavirus. In other words, loss of taste and smell is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19. Many also lose their sense of taste-likely because taste and aromas are interconnected. How common is loss of taste and smell from coronavirus?Īround 74% of COVID-19 patients lose their sense of smell, according to one study. But what is the prevalence of this odd side effect? How long does it typically last? Are there other ailments that can cause these symptoms? Read on to find the answers to these questions.

Two other neurological symptoms have been so widely reported that they are sometimes considered the most reliable early indicator of infection: loss of smell (anosmia) and taste (ageusia). įever, body aches, and a dry cough are hallmark symptoms of COVID-19 the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. For the latest on the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: As experts learn more about the novel coronavirus, news and information changes.

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