Loss of smell, called anosmia, is a common symptom of Covid-19.

For the past 9 months, a scientist and an infectious disease epidemiologist have applied their respective knowledge to develop olfactory testing programs.

According to some estimates, 44% to 77% of people with Covid-19 lose their sense of smell.

However, many people are not aware that they have lost it, while actively trying to smell something that is supposed to smell, such as a scented candle.

This is why researchers are encouraging people to smell something every day. It can be used as a daily tool of control by individuals, in the fight against Covid. Sudden and unexplained anosmia is a specific symptom of Covid-19.

Covid-19 affects your sense of smell unlike other common colds. When your nose is busy, odors, the light active odor molecules found in the air, are physically unable to reach the wind receptors in the upper part of your nasal cavity.

With Covid-19, olfactory loss is caused by a "signal disruption". Research has shown that the virus attacks the cells behind the nasal bridge just next to the olfactory neurons. These support cells are covered by many ACE2 receptors, which the virus uses to enter cells. This way, you do not signal the presence of any odor.

Unlike the common cold, many patients with Covid-19 also lose their taste.

Recent analyzes suggest that if you had to resolve just one symptom, sudden loss of smell may be the single best predictor of a Covid-19 diagnosis.

However, although olfactory loss is very specific for Covid-19, not all infected people report olfactory loss.

On the other hand, being able to smell does not mean you do not have Covid.

If you regularly try to smell a strong odor but do not notice anything, you should talk to your doctor.

Source: CNN