Among the several symptoms associated with COVID-19, scientists say that the loss of smell might be the best indicator of the disease. The same has been confirmed through two new researches hinting at the same.
The findings of the two international studies have now been published in the journal Chemical Senses. The studies involved a questionnaire designed by the researchers which was responded to by 4,500?COVID-19 patients?from a total of 23 nationalities.
From the findings, the studies conclude that COVID-19 patients frequently experience a loss of smell which often lasts for a long time. The average loss of the sense of smell was found to be 79.7 on a scale from 0-100, hinting at a large to complete sensory loss.
"This emphasises how important it is to be aware of this symptom, as it may be the only symptom of the disease," said Alexander Wieck Fjaeldstad from Aarhus University in Denmark.
Interestingly, the researchers also found that the sense of smell would often return much later than usual in COVID-19 patients. Only around half of patients with a loss of smell got their sense back after forty days.
"This differs from the picture we see with other viral infections and causes long-term discomfort for patients, both in relation to food and social contact, while at the same time causing them worry," Fjaeldstad said.
Right after the loss of smell, loss of taste ranked second on the list. The researchers found that the sense of taste was reduced to a measure of 69 on a scale from 0-100. The remaining sense of feeling in the mouth was also reduced to 37.3 on the same scale.
"While the loss of smell in itself removes the ability to sense the aroma of food, the simultaneous loss of the other senses make it difficult to register what you're eating. Putting food in your mouth can therefore become a decidedly unpleasant experience," Fjaeldstad added.
The studies indicate that the loss in these specific sensory organs might be the biggest warning of COVID-19 in a patient. "It shows that the loss of smell is specific to COVID-19, which is both relevant in relation to recognising the infection, and because it indicates that the sense of smell is closely linked to how SARS-CoV-2 infects the body," Fjaeldstad said.
(With inputs from PTI)