COVID-19. It has been more than a year since the world encountered the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Almost 86.5 million people have been infected with the virus, with 1.87 million deaths. Ever since the virus appeared on the face of the Earth, all communities have been severely affected. The pandemic has not only brought a health crisis but also the biggest economic crash. The scientific community is continuously using its resources to figure out a potential cure & control for the disease. However, this is a completely new strain of the virus with common signs and symptoms but a unique pathophysiology.
Losing Taste and Smell: Anosmia and Ageusia
Among the many symptoms of COVID-19, two of the most distinct are Anosmia and ageusia. The former is the loss of sense of smell, and the latter is the loss of taste. Early on in the pandemic, these two symptoms were reported anecdotally around the world. Almost all the people who were infected with the Coronavirus reported a loss of sense of smell and taste. Based on such wide occurrences and reports, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared Anosmia and ageusia as symptoms of COVID-19.
Loss of sense of smell and taste has been significant in the confirmation of the disease. This is because other common symptoms, such as fever, flu, sore throat, and body aches, are observed in influenza and common cold as well. They might create confusion about the occurrence of the disease, but the loss of smell and taste prompts people to contact their doctors for testing and getting proper treatment.
COVID-19 and Anosmia Research
Many research studies are underway to evaluate and determine the link between the coronavirus and the loss of smell and taste. However, no definite association has been highlighted yet. Many human and mouse-based studies suggest that the coronavirus induces inflammation and swelling in the nasal cavities. This inflammation damages the olfactory nerves and their receptor cells, which hampers the abilities of an individual to smell. The Harvard researchers believe that the virus affects the nasal cells temporarily and not the olfactory nerve. This is why people, when recovering from the infection, report having their senses back.
Another theory suggests that SARS-CoV-2 targets the ACE2 protein, which is abundantly found on the cells surrounding and supporting the olfactory nerve cells. The virus infects surrounding cells, increasing inflammation in the nose and mouth, which in turn affects the sense of taste and smell. In addition, it has also been reported that the virus targets the olfactory cilia, leading to the loss of smell. A transmission electron microscopic study suggests that the coronavirus infects the ciliated cells in the nasal cavity and causes deciliation. This loss of cilia, followed by difficult or improper regrowth, impairs the sense of smell in the patients.
The loss of smell is devastating in careers like sommeliers, chefs, and perfumers. That is only the tip of the iceberg. The senses of smell and taste are far more critical than most people realize—the loss of smell has significant adverse health effects for many people. The terrible truth is that anosmia, a hidden threat to the well-being of millions of Americans.
What You Can Do
Many expert researchers say that the virus doesn’t directly invade the taste buds. They consider the loss of smell and taste as a consequent condition. As the virus impairs the sense of smell, the person experiences a loss of taste as a consequence. However, research is still underway. Scientists are working hard to determine the exact cause of the virus affecting these senses. By far, the damage caused by the virus to the olfactory nerve serves as the best explanation.
Current research shows there is hope in smell therapy. The type used at the Anosmia Recovery Project has been proven highly effective.
Citations and Sources
https://hms.harvard.edu/news/how-covid-19-causes-loss-smell
https://www.brainandlife.org/articles/how-does-covid-19-cause-a-loss-of-smell-and/
https://www.uab.edu/news/health/item/11493-why-does-covid-19mpair-your-sense-of-smell
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7426555/
