Anosmia and COVID-19

    

     Anosmia, or the loss of the sense of smell, has been recognized as one of the symptoms associated with COVID-19. Many individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, have reported experiencing a sudden and temporary loss of their sense of smell. The exact mechanism behind anosmia in COVID-19 is not yet fully understood, but it is believed to be related to the virus's impact on the olfactory system. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is known to invade the cells of the nasal cavity and the olfactory epithelium, which contains the sensory receptors responsible for detecting odors. This invasion and resulting inflammation can lead to a disruption in the sense of smell.

    When I had COVID I did not recognize my loss of smell until the end of my symptoms. I realized my loss of smell when I was eating dinner at my parent's house and the food tasted off-not how it normally does. I came to the realization that I could not smell anything. My loss of smell had also affected my sense of taste, although my taste was still there it was altered. Weeks passed by and I still had not gained my sense of smell back. Quite honestly it was becoming a burden. 2 months have gone by and I have yet to gain my smell back and then by the third month my smell started to come back slowly and faintly. I gained compassion for people who had to go longer than three months.