3 Ways to Treat Loss of Smell From Covid-19
A doctor outlines potential approaches
At first glance, anosmia, or loss of smell, may seem like a trivial consequence of Covid-19 when compared to the other vital organ systems that can be affected. However, smell plays a key role in our daily lives and can easily be taken for granted until it’s suddenly gone.
Of the five senses, smell is the one most closely associated with memory and emotion. Smell is practical. It tells us when a peach is ripe, when the milk has gone bad, and when we need to bathe. Simply put, smell is important. When a disease like the novel coronavirus takes it away, we understandably want it back. I’ll cover some potential ways that can be accomplished, but first let’s examine how infection and smell are related.
SARS-CoV-2 isn’t the first pathogen to cause anosmia. Common cold viruses such as the rhinovirus and some of the other coronaviruses trigger inflammation of the sinus tissue, called sinusitis, which can lead to loss of smell. Bacteria can also cause sinusitis. Bacterial sinus infections are sometimes…
