Loss of taste and smell emerged as a distinctive symptom for many individuals who contracted COVID-19. This sensory disruption became a hallmark of the illness. While generally not life-threatening, the inability to perceive flavors and odors significantly affects quality of life, making everyday activities like eating less enjoyable and even posing safety risks.
Typical Recovery Timelines
For most individuals, taste and smell loss due to COVID-19 resolves within a few weeks, often 2 to 4 weeks after initial infection. Studies indicate that 72% to 77% of patients experience recovery of their smell and taste within one month.
Recovery is typically a gradual process rather than an instantaneous return. Data suggests that at six months post-infection, approximately 96% of individuals report smell recovery and 98% report taste restoration. Factors influencing initial recovery speed include the severity of sensory loss; for instance, moderate hyposmia (reduced sense of smell) tends to resolve quicker than more severe or complete loss.
Some research indicates that women may experience a slower recovery of taste and smell compared to men. Around 90% of individuals who experienced taste or smell loss due to COVID-19 eventually regain these senses within two years.
Understanding Persistent Changes
While many recover quickly, some individuals experience prolonged or altered taste and smell sensations. These persistent issues can manifest as parosmia or phantosmia, distinct from a simple absence of smell or taste.
Parosmia involves a distorted perception of smells, where familiar odors (e.g., coffee, favorite foods) smell unpleasant (e.g., garbage, rotten meat, chemicals). This distortion is believed to occur as damaged olfactory nerves regenerate incorrectly, misinterpreting scent signals.
Phantosmia refers to experiencing phantom smells, where an individual perceives an odor not actually present. These phantom smells can also be unpleasant, such as burning or smoke. Both parosmia and phantosmia can emerge weeks or months after initial infection, during the recovery phase as olfactory nerves attempt to repair themselves. The neurological mechanisms are still being investigated but are thought to involve miswiring of sensory neurons or sporadic brain signals. These persistent issues can last for months or even over a year for a smaller percentage of individuals.
Strategies for Recovery and Support
For individuals experiencing prolonged or distorted taste and smell, several strategies can aid recovery. Olfactory training, also known as smell training, is a widely recommended method. This involves regularly sniffing specific essential oils (e.g., rose, lemon, clove, eucalyptus) twice daily for weeks to months. The goal is to stimulate and retrain the olfactory system, promoting regeneration of olfactory receptor cells and helping the brain correctly interpret smells. Consistency and patience are important, as improvements can be gradual.
Other potential interventions include steroid nasal sprays, which may help reduce inflammation. Some individuals also explore supplements like omega-3 fatty acids or alpha-lipoic acid, though robust scientific evidence for their effectiveness is still developing. It is advisable to consult a healthcare professional before starting new treatments or supplements. Coping strategies for altered senses include focusing on food textures, colors, and other sensory aspects, and adjusting food preparation to minimize unpleasant odors or tastes. Seeking professional medical advice is important if concerns about persistent smell or taste loss arise, especially if the loss is sudden and not clearly linked to COVID-19.