Covid-19 and Parosmia

Questions @ The Counter

In this series, I am going to talk about either my most asked question or the question that intrigued me the most. 

With Covid cases on the rise, it’s no surprise my most asked question has been about Covid-related side effects. Specifically about the loss or distorted sense of smell when recovering (or actively) having covid-19. I’ve had many patients tell me about their loss of smell, and taste, or that everything tastes the same (post-covid) . And while they experienced this other family members did not experience that at all. 

What is Parosmia? 

According to Healthline it is a term used to describe health conditions that distort your sense of smell. If you have parosmia, you may experience a loss of scent intensity, meaning you can’t detect the full range of the scents around you.

What is Anosmia? 

This is the partial or full loss of sense of smell, is a common symptom of COVID-19. 

Some people report that food (they normally like) now tastes like cardboard. Interestingly,  A 2021 study found that almost half of the survey participants who had parosmia and a confirmed case of COVID-19 recovered their sense of smell in about three months. Link to the study HERE