Dry coughing fits, fever, headaches, shortness of breath, and even breathing difficulties sometimes…. Common symptoms of coronavirus are now known. But in March, a new coronavirus symptom appeared: the loss of the sense of smell.
Also known as anosmia, this new symptom has been reported to the direct report of the Health minister by the Conseil Professionnel des Spécialistes d’Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie [Otorhinolaryngology Specialist Board] stating a “resurgence of sudden anosmia cases, matching the sudden loss of the sense of smell, without obstruction of the nose, without discharge and that could develop in an isolated manner”.
A study carried out on 1,420 patients infected by mild forms of coronavirus by about fifty ENT specialists and searchers in 18 hospitals in Europe now confirms the loss of the sense of smell is a coronavirus symptom and a rather major symptom that should sound the alarm.
Among the patients studied, 70% of the cases lost their sense of smell, and anosmia has become the first identified symptom along with headaches and before even nasal blockage and cough. The World Health Organization has just added anosmia to the list of symptoms known, so is the loss of the sense of taste.
Anosmia can also be paired – in some and even rarer cases – with ageusia, which is the loss of the sense of taste. Two symptoms requiring medical advice per telephone, without going out to go to the doctor’s, and then be put in isolation.
Note that complete sense of smell recovery can take time: most patients recover this sense in 2 or 3 weeks, but for some, recovering their sense of smell can take up to 12 months, according to searchers and doctors.