After having coronavirus (COVID-19), you may still have a loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste. It can take time for your sense of smell or taste to recover.
According to a 2022 survey by Patel and colleagues, about 15% of people who experienced smell loss from COVID-19 continued to have problems six months later. That's roughly 9 million people in the U.S., and the number is growing.
During a viral illness, the nerve receptors in your nose can be damaged and change your perception of smell. It's believed this same phenomenon occurs during COVID-19 infection.
Several conditions may cause a bad smell in the nose, including sinusitis, tooth/ mouth infections, dry mouth, some medications, some foods/drinks, and olfactory damage. Typically, a bad smell in the nose is not life-threatening but can decrease the quality of life.
Phantosmia is usually temporary and should go away in a few weeks. But your symptoms may linger if a neurological issue is the cause. You should see a healthcare provider if phantom smells last for more than a few weeks.
COVID-19 rebound is when people with COVID-19 get better, then begin to get symptoms 2-8 days after they have recovered. They may also test positive again. COVID-19 rebound is seen in people who received treatment for COVID-19 as well as in people who did not receive treatment.
Isolation should continue for at least 10 days after symptom onset (day 0 is the day symptoms appeared, and day 1 is the next full day thereafter). Some people with severe illness (e.g., requiring hospitalization, intensive care, or ventilation support) may remain infectious beyond 10 days.
People with no symptoms can also spread the coronavirus to others. By the 10th day after COVID symptoms begin, most people will no longer be contagious, as long as their symptoms have continued to improve and their fever has resolved.
Most people who get COVID-19 recover to full health in about two weeks' time. COVID long-haulers are people who don't fully recover after catching the coronavirus. Symptoms of what's been dubbed “long COVID” vary by the individual and can come and go without explanation.
Symptoms made worse by activity can include difficulty thinking or “brain fog”, muscle aches or headaches alongside increased fatigue.
It can make you feel dull and tired, take away your energy, and eat away at your ability to get things done. Depending on the seriousness of your COVID-19 infection, it may last 2 to 3 weeks. But for some people with a severe infection, the brain fog-like fatigue and pain can linger for weeks or months.
Loss of smell can be one of the most persistent symptoms of long COVID-19. Most people get better in a few weeks, but for some people, it can take longer – sometimes over a year. In one study, about 25% of people who lost their sense of smell hadn't regained it within 60 days of getting sick.
It can take time for your sense of smell or taste to recover. You may find that foods smell or taste differently after having coronavirus. Food may taste bland, salty, sweet or metallic. These changes don't usually last long, but they can affect your appetite and how much you eat.
While some people with long COVID may experience ongoing health problems weeks or even months after contracting the virus, Jennifer was among a fraction of individuals who were impacted by parosmia and dysgeusia, when the senses of smell and taste, respectively, are grossly distorted or lost.
If you are significantly immunosuppressed, you are more likely to be infectious for longer than 7 days and may still be able to spread the virus. Follow these measures until day 14 following your positive test result to further reduce any remaining risk of spreading the virus.
Both PCR tests and antigen tests (including home tests) can continue to turn up positive even after someone is no longer considered infectious. Read more about the duration of testing positive on the CDC's website .
Gradually build up exercise – seize the time when you are feeling less tired and go for a short walk – but you MUST still avoid any contact with others. However, at this stage lookout for breath related symptoms (see below what to look for).
A hallmark of COVID-19 is its ability to get worse quickly and aggressively. While the 10 to 12 days after a positive COVID-19 test are when many patients are hospitalized, researchers do not understand what changes occur early in the disease and how they may predict hospitalization later.
After a positive test result, you may continue to test positive for some time. Some tests, especially PCR tests, may continue to show a positive result for up to 90 days.
This could result because of the body's natural healing process, or it could be due to the virus itself. Varying degrees of fever, fatigue and breathing problems can occur, on and off, for days or even weeks.
In COVID-19 patients, the prevalence of phantosmia also fluctuates between studies, from 10% [15] to 34% when OD is still present up to 11 months after the acute phase of the disease [11].
Parosmia is a well-documented consequence of smell loss associated with Covid 19. Those who experience this qualitative olfactory disorder during recovery find that the odour of common foods and household items is distorted, and the experience can range from merely altered to profoundly disgusting.
It happens when smell receptor cells in your nose don't detect odors or transmit them to your brain. Causes include bacterial or viral infections, head trauma, neurological conditions and COVID-19. Parosmia is usually temporary, but in some cases, it's permanent.