Anosmia is the complete loss of the sense of smell. So, what are the causes of anosmia and what can we do when faced with such a situation?
First of all, anosmia can be temporary or permanent. (If your sense of smell is reduced, we call it hyposmia) Lack of smell occurs when smells (olfactory particles) do not reach the olfactory layer inside the nose or when there is damage to the olfactory nerves. The longer the anosmia lasts, the more important the need for your nose and sinuses to be examined by a specialist and the more likely you are in need of some scannings to investigate further.
Does anosmia affect your taste sense? Are there any other symptoms?
75-80% of what we perceive as taste actually comes from smelling, so it’s not surprising that anosmia can affect our sense of taste.
Ortonazal smelling occurs when you smell something through smelling. During this process, the air carries the smells into the nose. Retronasal smell occurs when food smells from the oral cavity (i.e., your mouth) pass into the nose while you are eating. 75-80% of our taste perception actually comes from this process, so anosmia affects our taste sense as well as smell.
Any problem preventing the smell can also affect the taste. This can reduce the pleasure we get while eating and drinking. This would also affect our quality of life.
Both permanent and temporary loss of smell can have dangerous consequences in our daily life, such as not being able to notice the gas leak, not being able to smell the smoke or not being able to perceive whether a cloth is clean or dirty. During such a period, you may need to take various precautions and get support from your relatives.
What are the most common causes of anosmia?
Among the most common causes of anosmia include viruses, tree pollens, grass pollen, animal and dust allergies, deviation of the septum, nasal polyps, or head injuries and trauma.
Other, less common causes include sinusitis, damage to the central nervous system and tumors.
An ENT specialist can determine the cause of anosmia by various examination and screening methods.
Does COVID-19 cause anosmia?
Yes, COVID-19 can also cause loss of smell. In fact, anosmia is a more common sign of a coronavirus infection than a newly beginning cough or high fever.
Approximately 70% of people with COVID-19 report that they have lost their sense of smell, or both their senses of taste and smell. For this reason, the World Health Organization has recognized anosmia as an important symptom of COVID-19 infection.
If you suddenly lose your sense of smell, it is very important that you follow the recommendations of the Ministry of Health for individual isolation, even if you do not have any of the other COVID-19 symptoms. However, if this condition lasts for a long time, then you would need to be examined by an ENT specialist.
How long do I lose smell?
Viral anosmia is more common than both COVID-19 and other viruses. About 40% of people with upper respiratory tract viral infections experience a loss of smell. About 90% of people with COVID-19 and other infections begin to recover after 2-3 weeks. Covid-19-related anosmia is similar to anosmia caused by other upper respiratory tract viruses.
The recovery of the remaining 10% of people can usually take up to 12 weeks after the beginning of the infection. Similar is the case for coronavirus-related diseases.
Although it is a rare condition, there are also some cases where people can permanently lose their sense of smell after a viral infection.
Can anosmia be cured?
In most people, the tendency to recover after a certain period of time is observed, the sense of smell comes back after 3-12 weeks. The treatment to be recommended to you will depend on the cause of anosmia.
Which treatments are available for the anosmia?
For anosmia not related to COVID-19, your ENT specialist may prescribe you some medications, if necessary. Some people may need septum, polyp or sinus surgery.
For people with viral anosmia, the only treatment currently proven to be helpful is olfactory training (also known as smelling training). This method can potentially help speed up your recovery.
Evidence of the effects of treatments such as omega 3, vitamin A drops or alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of anosmia is not yet strong enough.
What should I do if I lose my sense of smell during the COVID-19 pandemic?
The most important thing to do is to follow the current recommendations of the Ministry of Health. If you lose your sense of smell, you should receive support by calling the line 184 of the Turkish Ministry of Health Communication Center to have a test, and isolate yourself by quarantining before and after the test.
Whether or not your COVID-19 test is positive, you can talk to an ENT specialist if your anosmia lasts for a long time. Since viral infections are not the only underlying cause of anosmia, it is important to talk to an ENT specialist.