Novel research suggests that loss of smell may best predict COVID-19 in patients who have symptoms of respiratory diseases.

Two new studies suggest that there is frequent loss of smell among patients with COVID-19, which usually lasts for a long duration. More than 4,500 COVID-19 patients from 23 nationalities responded to the questionnaire. Investigators noted that the average loss of the sense of smell was 79.7 on a scale of 0-100, suggesting large to complete sensory loss. The findings published in the journal Chemical Senses suggest that only about half of the patients who developed loss of smell got their sense of smell back after 40 days. Sense of taste was also found to be diminished to a significant extent - 69.0 on a scale of 0-100… (HT – PTI, January 20, 2021)