We all know by now that we should practise social distancing and minimise our contact with others due to the worsening of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We have all been told about the symptoms of COVID-19 so that we can monitor our own health and to seek immediate medical attention the moment we notice that something is wrong with us.
Symptoms include cough, fever, tiredness, difficulty breathing (severe cases).
But now, according to UK ENT (ears, nose, throat) doctors, there’s another symptom that you should look out for.
UK ENT Doctors Say A Sudden Loss Of Smell Or Taste Is A Symptom Of COVID-19
According to evidence compiled by leading UK ENT doctors, a sudden loss of smell or taste is a symptom of COVID-19, and those who experience this should be aware that they may be a “hidden carrier” of the virus, even if they do not have any other of the common symptoms.
This was observed in South Korea, China, and Italy when about a third of the patients who were infected with COVID-19 reported a loss of smell, also known as anosmia or hyposmia.
The president of the British Rhinological Society, Professor Clare Hopkins, and the president of the British Association of Otorhinolaryngology, Professor Nirmal Kumar, said, “In South Korea, where testing has been more widespread, 30% of patients testing positive have had anosmia as their major presenting symptom in otherwise mild cases.”
The professors have also said that many COVID-19 patients are only experiencing loss of smell as opposed to the more commonly recognised symptoms like fever and cough.
They also said, “There have been a rapidly growing number of reports of a significant increase in the number of patients presenting with anosmia in the absence of other symptoms. Iran has reported a sudden increase in cases of isolated anosmia, and many colleagues from the US, France, and Northern Italy have the same experience.”
Since the loss of smell or taste was not initially recognised as a COVID-19 symptom, many people who have experienced this may not have had the urgency to get themselves checked out.
This, in turn, leads to them unknowingly spreading COVID-19, which could possibly be the reason for the sudden rapid spread of the virus globally.
“These patients may be some of the hitherto hidden carriers that have facilitated the rapid spread of COVID-19,” they revealed.
Young Patients Are More Likely To Experience Sudden Loss Of Smell Or Taste
Professor Kumar shared that younger patients are more likely to experience a sudden loss in smell or taste without the commonly recognised symptoms of COVID-19 like a high fever and persistent coughs.
He commented, “In young patients, they do not have any significant symptoms such as the cough and fever, but they may have just the loss of sense of smell and taste, which suggests that these viruses are lodging in the nose.”
What This Means
With this sudden revelation, it is important for those who have experienced a sudden loss of smell or taste to immediately seek medical attention. Before seeing a doctor, you should inform the clinic you’re going to of your recent travel history and your symptoms so that they can be prepared to take the necessary precautions when you arrive.
While you may think it’s nothing much, you could be a hidden carrier contributing to the rampant spread of the virus.
It is always better to be safe than sorry.
And if you realised that you’ve actually been experiencing a loss of smell or taste for the past few days and have not practised social distancing, please immediately do so, and make sure that you isolate yourself at home in order to prevent spreading the infection to others.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious situation and we should not be complacent about it.
