Six months no smell and taste after coronavirus

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Ageusia and anosmia are considered common symptoms of coronavirus infection. Despite the outward harmlessness and obvious painlessness, the loss of taste and smell causes considerable inconvenience. A person loses his usual attitude, important external informants, experiences psychological inconvenience, loses factors that can bring pleasure. If this drags on for a long time and for six months there is no sense of smell and taste after the coronavirus, then what to do with it is a question that requires additional consideration and therapeutic measures.

Description of the problem

The prevalence of the symptom was noted back in March 2020 - less than a month after the WHO announced the start of the pandemic. Two months later, at the official level, based on the collected statistics, hypo- and anosmia were on the list of common and potential symptoms compiled by doctors.

Despite the variability of the causes of the symptom (from an allergic rhinitis to the use of specific drops, nerve damage, the consequences of trauma or surgery), such a symptom should be alarming.

Statistics indicate that a quarter of patients with coronavirus have anosmia. Deterioration of vision and loss of taste are in second place in patients, and many of them do not have additional symptoms - fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Therefore, among the recommendations, it is always advised to behave during anosmia as if COVID-19 has already been diagnosed. In more than 80% of patients, it occurs in combination with other characteristic features.

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The reasons for the development of negative feelings have not yet found unanimity in the opinion of scientists. There are different hypotheses of origin, it is possible that they all have the right to exist:

• anosmia is caused by acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract;
• the penetration of the virus into the cerebral cortex, more precisely, into the area that is responsible for recognizing certain external information;
• damage to the nervous system (infection in peripheral neurons, destruction of neuroepithelium, or impaired conduction between the center and the olfactory nerve);
• combined pathology, in which there is not one, but several reasons (this is the most likely option when taste and smell disappear).

Prolonged postcoid anosmia is unlikely to be associated with commonplace inflammation of the nasal mucosa, especially if it is accompanied by ageusia. Therefore, the answer to the question of what to do if there is no sense of smell and taste for six months after coronavirus is not in the use of nasal sprays, not in self-medication and following the advice of friends. The problem may require resolution at a deeper level, especially when it comes to combined dysfunction or damage to the neurosensory system.

Working hypothesis

Recently, the opinion has spread that anosmia is caused not by damage to the nervous system, but by the penetration of virions into cells and impaired perception in neurons due to the inability of odorant molecules to penetrate them in the usual way. Practice shows that postcoid anosmia occurs only 15-20% less frequently than the accompanying disease.

In response to vigorous advice to flush the mucous membrane and apply nasal sprays, as well as assurances that the sense of smell is returning after a final recovery, people often write in the comments that they have been ill for a long time, but anosmia has not passed, for six months there is no sense of smell and taste after the coronavirus.

Doctor from Israel B. Brill cites statistics recorded during the first wave of coronavirus. Then the recovery with the return of the functionality of the analyzers occurred mainly within a three-week period.

Since the beginning of a new wave of infection, 3 scenarios of the course of anosmia have been noted:

• Intermediate takes place a week, and sometimes three days from the moment of development. The chairman of the RRO A. Chuchalin is sure that this is a consequence of the defeat of the nasal mucosa by a penetrating aggressor.
• Medium duration - can last throughout the illness and another 2-3 weeks after recovery. Most likely caused by the penetration of a pathogen into the cerebral cortex. As soon as the person recovers, the regeneration of the function begins.
• Lingering anosmia is the most likely explanation for complaints when there is no sense of smell and taste for six months after the coronavirus. It may take longer. The logical explanation is the need to restore neurons and nerve connections. However, the cause is also called neurogenic inflammation, which continues to develop after recovery.

Anosmia can manifest itself in different ways - muffle habitual sensations, lead to the complete disappearance of the familiar world of smells, distort previously pleasant smells to unbearable and negative ones. The latter phenomenon is called parosmia and is considered a sign of recovery, but it can also be phantosmia, when a person senses odors that are not nearby.

Constructive advice

All recommendations on how to restore impaired functions with mint, chocolate, cinnamon, using triggers and fantasies when inhaling and eating are useless until the reason why this complication of covid has been so prolonged is not established. Correct diagnosis is required - MRI and olfactometry.

Such research methods will help to exclude atrophy of the olfactory bulb, to determine the degree of its functionality. After that, the doctor will prescribe the necessary medications or smell training. It can be a set of 6 fragrances sold in a pharmacy, or 4 types of essential oils used for this purpose in England and the USA.

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Clove, lemon, rose, and eucalyptus oils are believed to be excellent ways to stimulate the olfactory nerves. This therapy can be practiced almost indefinitely. You just need to inhale the fragrance from each bottle for at least 20 seconds a day.

The implementation of general recommendations will also help:

• it is necessary to maintain optimal humidity in the room in order to avoid drying out of the mucous membrane;
• with the approval of a doctor, take B vitamins, which are responsible for the regeneration of neurons;
• in the presence of inflammation, drink antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs recommended by the doctor;
• follow a diet and completely get rid of addictions.

Belgian scientists advise using sodium citrate, aroma lamp, psychological effects (self-hypnosis and imagination) during training with scents. However, they are confident that nasal sprays and drops will not bring any benefit - this has been confirmed by numerous experiments. Active actions (washing, heating, physiotherapy) taken without medical approval are undesirable.

Self-medication and the use of questionable drugs can damage the mucous membrane that has not yet recovered. Then it will be even more difficult for the doctor to diagnose the problem and eliminate it scientifically.

Outcomes

1. Postcoid anosmia can be of different duration and etiology.
2. Do not follow dubious treatment recommendations so as not to damage the mucous membranes.
3. There are diagnostic methods that can help identify an existing problem.
4. The olfactory function is trained using specially selected scents.
5. The duration of anosmia after illness may be related to the severity of the illness.