Some individuals experience a loss of smell and taste, known as "parosmia," following a COVID-19 infection, which can persist for several months after recovery. Parosmia is a smell disorder where odors become distorted. Changes in these senses are among the many potential symptoms of long-term COVID-19.
Unpalatable Foods
According to a report published by Healthline, the potential causes, duration, and treatment of parosmia were reviewed. The report states that parosmia is a type of olfactory disorder in which odors are distorted; for example, something that previously smelled pleasant can smell foul or rotten to someone with parosmia. Since smell and taste are closely linked, parosmia can also negatively impact taste and eating. For individuals with parosmia, foods that were previously enjoyable may become unpalatable after recovering from COVID-19, potentially leading to weight loss and reduced appetite.
Risk Factors
The report explains that experiencing parosmia can significantly affect quality of life, as those affected may also suffer from weight loss and a lack of appetite. Individuals at greater risk for developing parosmia after recovering from COVID-19 are those who had a loss of smell and taste as acute symptoms during their infection. Age and sex are also important factors in experiencing parosmia. A recent study examined 268 individuals with parosmia after recovering from COVID-19 and found that 70.1% of them were aged 30 or younger, and 73.5% were female.
Duration of Parosmia
The report noted the duration of parosmia post-COVID-19 recovery, stating that parosmia generally fades gradually over time. It can take weeks or months to see improvement. A recent study indicated that approximately 49.3% of those who experienced parosmia after recovering from COVID-19 showed improvement within three months, while 50.7% reported that parosmia persisted for more than three months.
Inflammatory Effects
The report mentioned that the precise mechanism by which COVID-19 causes parosmia is unknown. However, researchers have some theories. While some issues with the sense of smell may stem from inflammatory effects in the nasal cavity, this does not account for the ongoing bad odors reported by COVID-19 survivors. There is a possibility that a COVID-19 infection may damage the receptors and nerves associated with the sense of smell, and although this damage can heal over time, it may disrupt how individuals perceive odors for some time.
