Table of contents:
- Recognizing parosmia in COVID-19 patients
- How does COVID-19 infection cause olfactory distortion?
- 1,024,298
- 831,330
- 28,855
Read all articles about coronavirus (COVID-19) here.
Losing the ability to smell or anosmia is one of the typical symptoms of people infected with COVID-19. Patients with anosmia are unable to smell odors and this is often accompanied by a loss of sense of taste. Later COVID-19 patients reported smelling fishy smell, the smell of sulfur, and some unpleasant odors. This symptom, called parosmia, occurs in patients who experience it long COVID-19 or long-term symptoms after recovering from the infection.
Recognizing parosmia in COVID-19 patients
COVID-19 infection can cause long-term symptoms or long-term COVID-19, a condition that makes patients still feel symptoms even though they have been declared cured.
Symptoms of pain in former COVID-19 patients have been discussed in a number of scientific journals, some cases have even been reported in many mass media. Symptoms long COVID which generally occurs namely fatigue, joint pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, brain fog or foggy thoughts (problems with memory and concentration), vision problems, or even reporting of severe hair loss.
Meanwhile, parosmia was recently reported as one of the most unusual long-term effects of COVID-19. This symptom haunts COVID-19 patients with an unpleasant smell like the fishy smell of fish that is often smelled.
"This phenomenon is very unique and very strange. Some said they smelled fishy, others smelled charred even though there was no smoke or anything burning, ”said ENT surgeon Prof. Nirmal Kumar.
Kumar is one of the first specialists to examine why COVID-19 patients experience symptoms of anosmia in early March. He realized that there were some patients who recovered from anosmia or their ability to smell had returned but experienced parosmia instead.
Parosmia that occurs in COVID-19 patients is a condition in which a person experiences olfactory hallucinations. Patients with parosmia smell a scent that does not match reality.
"His sense of smell was distorted," said Kumar. But unfortunately most of the smells are unpleasant and unbearable.
How does COVID-19 infection cause olfactory distortion?
Kumar described this virus as a neurotropic virus or having an association with nerves in the head, specifically the nerves that control the sense of smell.
"But it is also possible that this virus affects other nerves related to neurotransmitters or sending messages to the brain," Kumar said.
In COVID-19 patients with anosmia, the ability to smell can return within a few weeks, but it is not known how long the symptoms of parosmia last.
"We don't know the exact mechanism, but we are looking for ways to help patients recover," he continued.
COVID-19 Outbreak updates Country: IndonesiaData
1,024,298
Confirmed831,330
Recovered28,855
DeathDistribution MapScientists don't know much about how the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 causes anosmia and parosmia. Until now researchers are still trying to learn more about why patients lose this essential sense and how to help them.
Charity AbScent, an organization that supports people with olfactory disorders, is currently gathering information from thousands of anosmia and parosmia patients. They cooperate with British Rhinological Society and ENT experts in the UK to help develop therapies.
AbScent recommends olfactory exercises by inhaling rose, lemon, clove, and eucalyptus oil. This method is done every day for 20 seconds until the ability to smell returns.
