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KOMPAS.com – Loss of smell is an indicator Covid-19 which is more obvious than a cough or fever.
This is the conclusion of a study conducted by University College London (UCL).
UCL conducted research on 590 people who loss of smell or feelings at the beginning of the emergence of Covid-19. Experts found that 80 percent of respondents or about 472 people have antibodies to the corona virus.
Of the people who had antibodies, 40 percent or about 189 people had no other symptoms.
However, this study only looked at people with mild symptoms.
Also read: Revealed, How the Corona Virus Makes Covid-19 Sufferers Unable to Smell
To find out, evidence of loss of smell and taste as a sign of Covid-19 was first reported in April. This condition was only added to the official list of symptoms in mid-May.
Current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines state that anyone who has lost their sense of smell or taste should self-isolate and apply for a Covid-19 test.
The lead author of the UCL study, Prof. Rachel Batterham sees that until now many people consider cough and fever to be the main symptoms of Covid-19 to watch out for.
This probably started when the emergence of Covid-19, most people who were infected claimed to have a fever and cough.
Research
Prof. Batterham and his team recruited respondents from April 23 to May 14 via text message. These people four weeks earlier reported being unable to smell and taste.
All participants were tested for antibodies. Four out of five people who test positive show previous Covid-19 infection.
In this study, all participants had mild symptoms including loss of smell and taste. However, they may not represent all Covid-19 patients.
However, Rachel Batterham and her team’s findings emphasize that people who lose their sense of smell and taste should self-isolate.
“If you realize that you cannot smell everyday items such as perfume, bleach, toothpaste, or coffee, you should isolate yourself,” said Prof. Batterham as reported BBC News, Friday (2/10/2020).
Indeed, not all Covid-19 patients lose their sense of smell.
But if you do lose your sense of smell, researchers say, that’s likely a sign of the coronavirus.
“The thing to watch out for is the loss of smell without a stuffy or runny nose,” explained Prof. Batterham.
Loss of smell becomes symptoms of Covid-19 because the SARS-CoV-2 corona virus attacks cells found in the back of the nose, throat, and not.
Losing your smell and taste due to Covid-19 is different from when you have a cold, where the airways are blocked and the nose is runny.
King’s College London researchers who ran the Covid Symptom Study previously estimated that 60 percent of people with the coronavirus lost their sense of smell or taste.
The danger of losing your sense of smell and taste
Although loss of smell is considered a mild symptom and does not require hospital admission, Prof. Batterham points out the potential dangers of losing the sense of smell such as not being able to detect smoke, gas leaks or burnt food.
The illustration of the nose is the exact location for the entry of the virus.-
If this condition is suffered for a long time, it can also have a significant impact on quality of life.
Thousands of people reported online about worrying experiences including starting fires and not being able to smell smoke.
Also read: Many Covid-19 Patients Who Have Healed Still Cannot Smell
Some have noticed continually smell rancid “trash” or just taste metallic. Others have found themselves unable to taste food for months after clearing the virus.
“” This group of people who simply lose their smell without experiencing other symptoms can also pose the “greatest risk” to others because they may feel generally well and continue to live their daily lives, “said Prof Batterham.
Although the two often go together, a loss or change in smell is more common than a loss of taste.
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