How long does the no smell and taste last

For most people, parosmia will go away after a few weeks. There are treatment options for people who don’t recover on their own. 

The medical term for a change in smell or taste is “parosmia.” Parosmia is a common symptom of COVID-19 infection. In one review of more than 3,500 people with COVID-19, almost half reported a change in their sense of smell or taste. 

This symptom usually goes away on its own within a few weeks. But it can last much longer for some people. Scientists are still trying to figure out why this symptom affects some people more than others.  

Let’s look at the current evidence on how COVID-19 infection can cause changes in smell and taste, how long this can last, and what you can do to manage it. 

What is parosmia?  

Parosmia is an unpleasant odor perception. Anosmia is the loss of smell. Both parosmia and anosmia are types of olfactory dysfunction, or problems with sense of smell, that can occur in COVID-19 infection. 

Taste and smell are closely linked, so people experiencing trouble with their sense of smell can also have trouble with taste. 

How does COVID-19 infection cause olfactory dysfunction? 

We still don’t know for certain what causes changes in smell during COVID-19 infection. But there are a few different ways it seems to happen:  

• Congestion and swelling: You have probably experienced temporary changes in your sense of taste or smell when you had a cold. That’s because many upper respiratory viral illnesses cause congestion and inflammation in the nose that prevents odors from reaching the part of the nose responsible for sense of smell. 

• Damage to nerves in the nose: Viruses like COVID-19 can also affect smell by damaging the lining of the nasal cavity, or the olfactory epithelium. The olfactory epithelium contains sensory nerves that interact with odors to generate signals to send to the brain. Fortunately these nerves can repair themselves over time. 

• Damage to the olfactory bulb: The nerves in the nose send signals to a part of the olfactory bulb, a part of the brain. The olfactory bulb interprets these signals so you can experience smell. Damage to the olfactory bulb can cause long-lasting or permanent changes in smell. There’s some mixed evidence that the COVID-19 virus may travel along the nerves to damage the olfactory bulb, causing problems with sense of smell. 

How long does parosmia last after COVID-19 infection? 

Most people who experience changes in smell will have complete or partial recovery within a few weeks. Studies show that about 90% of people have significant improvement after 4 to 8 weeks. 

But that still leaves many people with continued issues with their sense of smell. If you’re still experiencing problems with sense of smell months after COVID-19 infection, you aren’t alone. And there are things you can do to manage the symptoms. 

What’s the treatment for parosmia? 

The best treatment for anosmia or parosmia is olfactory training. Olfactory training is a process of repeated exposure to odors. Researchers have studied it in patients who had problems with sense of smell after viral infections. The training proved to improve symptoms. 

You can do olfactory training at home over a period of several months. It’s time consuming, but there aren’t any risks — plus it has good results. Here’s how to get started:

• You’ll need a set of four scents. The most common scents are eucalyptus, citronella (lemon), eugenol (clove), and phenylethyl alcohol (rose). You can buy these scents as part of a scent training kit. Or you can create your own by soaking cotton in essential oil and placing it inside a small, airtight jar. 

• Smell each scent two times per day. The best times are in the morning, before breakfast, and in the evening, before bed.

• Sniff each scent for 15 to 30 seconds. It’s important to focus while you’re smelling. Take short, gentle sniffs and try to focus on your memory of the smell. 

• It can take weeks to months to notice an improvement. Experts recommend doing this twice daily for 24 weeks. But some studies found that certain people need to continue practicing longer and with different scents. 

Talk to your healthcare provider before starting olfactory training. There’s also some evidence that using steroid nasal treatments with olfactory training can help people recover faster. Your healthcare provider can prescribe this treatment.

Unfortunately, there’s no evidence that other treatments or the COVID-19 vaccine can improve your sense of smell. But, of course, the COVID-19 vaccine is a great tool to prevent infection.   

What are some strategies to manage parosmia?

While it isn’t life-threatening to lose your sense of smell, it really affects your daily life. For one, it can make eating and drinking less enjoyable. 

Also, your sense of smell is closely linked to the parts of the brain that process emotions and memory. It can be distressing to no longer be able to pick up familiar scents. 

Here are some side effects of loss of smell or taste and ways to manage them:

• Decreased appetite: If you can’t smell, or if you only experience foul smells, it can be hard to eat as you normally would. There are still ways to eat well when you can’t taste or smell. Instead of focusing on flavor, try to mix foods of different textures or temperatures. 

• Safety: Sense of smell is important for detecting harmful odors like gas or smoke. Keep yourself safe by making sure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home are working. And keep your space well-ventilated while using cleaning products. Check sell-by dates in order to prevent eating spoiled food. 

• Mood changes: Problems with sense of smell are often associated with changes in mood and a higher risk of depression. Online support groups offer a way to talk with other people going through the same problem. You may benefit from therapy or medication to treat depression. Don’t hesitate to bring up problems with smell and mood with your healthcare provider — it’s an important issue that deserves attention. 

For more tips on how to manage living with an altered sense of smell, visit AbScent and Fifth Sense, two U.K.-based charities focused on helping people with smell disorders.  

The bottom line

Changes in sense of smell or taste are unpleasant and affect many aspects of daily life. While this problem doesn’t last long for most people with COVID-19 infection, some people can have long-lasting changes in their smell. The best treatment option available is olfactory training, which you can do at home over a period of several months.

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