Taste And Smell Sensation Dysfunction In Covid-19 Patients

ABSTRACT

A significant proportion of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 report a new onset of smell or taste loss. The duration of the chemosensory impairment and predictive factors of recovery are still unclear. In this study, we aim to describe the prevalence and features of loss of smell (anosmia) and loss of taste (ageusia) in Covid-19 patients. This study was done during second wave of Covid -19 to assess the smell and taste sensations dysfunction in Covid-19 infected subjects. Subjects above age of 18 years who were infected with Covid -19 virus and recovered from Covid-19 infection were included in this study. 50.49 % subjects had loss of smell sensation. 36.76% subjects had loss of taste sensation, whereas 34.31 % subjects had loss of both smell and taste sensation. Chemosensitive dysfunction is associated with coronavirus disease and may be the only symptom that presents the disease. Smell and taste loss are highly prevalent in COVID-19.