COVID-19. Millions of people have long-lasting problems with their sense of smell or taste after
Categories: Covid 19 US NEWS
COVID-19. Millions of people have long-lasting problems with their sense of smell or taste after
Thanks to vaccination and practicing safety measures, the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been controlled to some extent. But the virus is not over. New cases are still being reported globally, with some countries reporting an alarming increase in cases like China. Millions of people who have contracted COVID are still battling the long-term effects of the deadly virus. Researchers and experts are investigating the long-term effects of Covid.
A study published on Thursday (July 28) suggests that around 5 percent of patients with confirmed cases of COVID have suffered a prolonged loss of smell or taste. Such cases are potentially contributing to the long COVID burden. Loss of smell is one of the major symptoms that act as a identifier for COVID. However, experts are investigating how often such symptoms occur or how long they can last.
But in the latest study, published in The BMJ (the peer-reviewed medical journal of the British Medical Association), researchers evaluate 18 previous studies of loss of smell and taste. The studies were conducted on multiple continents and in different demographic groups involving 3,700 patients. But it also found that six months after contracting the virus, four percent of patients had no sense of smell. However, it was not clear whether this represented a complete or partial recovery.
The study also estimated that 5.6 percent of patients may have a persistent loss of smell. On the other hand, 4.4 percent cannot fully recover their sense of taste. Danny Altman, an immunologist at Imperial College London, said it was a "robust and important study". Altmann is not involved in the research."Studies like these alert us to the hidden burden of people suffering from persistent symptoms, but probably don't think it's worth contacting a GP, on the assumption that not much will be done," he said.