Among the many sequels of COVID-19[feminine] infection, the one that has received a lot of attention is the loss of smell or taste. For many people, the disease is long-term and treatment remains elusive.
Why does this happen to some people and are there effective treatments to restore our sense of smell after COVID?
Loss of smell is common with many viral infections
Our sense of taste and smell work together to help us enjoy food and drink. The loss of these senses can make meals tasteless or bland. More importantly, we may not recognize potentially dangerous situations like a gas leak or spoiled food.
Loss of taste (ageusia) and smell (anosmia) is not only an early symptom of COVID-19 infection, it is also a well-known symptom of long COVID.
However, the condition is not unique to COVID.
“Loss of smell is common with many viral infections, and especially with COVID. In about 95 percent of cases, the smell is back after 6 months,” Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, a board-certified internist and nationally recognized expert in the fields of chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, sleep and pain.
In a to study From New York University, researchers found that the presence of the COVID virus near nerve cells in olfactory tissue stimulated an eruption of immune cells, such as microglia and T cells, to counter the infection.
These cells release proteins called cytokines that alter the genetic activity of olfactory cells, even though the virus cannot infect them. In other scenarios, immune cell activity quickly dissipates; But researchers theorize that COVID-related immune signaling persists in a way that alters the activity of genes needed to build olfactory receptors.
Other research found why, for some people, the loss is potentially permanent.
Scientists from Duke University, along with experts from Harvard University and the University of California, San Diego, used a tissue biopsy (extracted sample) to analyze olfactory epithelial cells, specifically those from COVID patients. with long-term anosmia.
The results indicate that our immune cells can continue to respond, even when the threat is gone.
Scans revealed a widespread infiltration of T lymphocytes (immune cells) which caused an inflammatory response in the nose where the nerve cells of smell are located.
“The results are striking,” said lead author Bradley Goldstein, MD, an associate professor in Duke’s Department of Neurobiology, in a statement.
“It almost looks like some sort of autoimmune-like process in the nose,” he noted.
regain our sense of smell, Steroid nasal spray shows promise
A to study published in the American Journal of Otolaryngology found that fluticasone nasal spray (Flonase) helped participants regain their sense of smell.
The researchers looked at 120 people with anosmia due to COVID-19 and divided them into two groups, one who received treatment and the other who did not.
They found that smell and taste function improved significantly within a week in all patients with COVID-19 who received fluticasone nasal spray.
Teitelbaum said the nasal spray may work because viral infections can cause inflammation and swelling around the olfactory nerves. Fluticasone is an over-the-counter steroid nasal spray that reduces inflammation.
“Once the infection has been gone for a month,” Teitelbaum advised. “OTC Flonase Steroid Nasal Spray [used] for 6-8 weeks can decrease nasal and nerve swelling.
But he warned that this nasal spray should not be used while symptoms of an active infection, such as a runny nose, are present.
Olfactory conversion
Anosmia was studied long before the current pandemic. A 2009 to study He discovered that the sense of smell could be resensitized in people who had lost the ability to detect smells.
The researchers exposed the participants to one of four scents: clove, lemon, eucalyptus, and rose.
Patients sniff the four intense odors twice a day for 12 weeks. They were tested for sensitivity before and after training using “Sniffin’ Sticks” of different odor intensities.
Compared to baseline, patients who trained their sense of smell experienced an increase in their sensitivity to odors, according to their Sniffin’ Sticks test score. Sensitivity to smell was unchanged in patients who had not received sensory training.
Research Looking specifically at people with COVID-related smell loss, it was found that smell training effectively improved their ability to detect smells.
“When started early and with good compliance, olfactory training has been reported to be most beneficial for olfactory function,” Teitelbaum said.
Vitamins that can help
There are many theories about what causes the loss of smell in COVID, but we still don’t know exactly why.
Teitelbaum thinks it’s likely a combination of several causes, including low levels of certain nutrients, such as zinc.
“I give 25 to 50 mg [of zinc] one day for 6 months [to patients]he said.
Zinc is essential for immune function, with the main immune regulating hormone called thymulin being zinc dependent. Many infections, including AIDS, deplete zinc to worsen immunity. The smell is also zincdependent.
Another key nutrient for smell is vitamin A.
“The retinol form of vitamin A at doses of 2500 to 5000 units per day can, together with zinc [at] 25-50mg a day helps feel over time,” Teitelbaum recommended.
However, pregnant women should be careful when taking this vitamin. “Vitamin A will cause birth defects in pregnant women at doses above 8,000 units,” Teitelbaum warned.
A case study from 2021 describes how a COVID-19 patient’s ability to smell was restored by olfactory training combined with daily doses of these B-complex vitamins:
- 5000 IU of vitamin B1
- 100mg vitamin B6
- 5000mg vitamin B12
The patient’s anosmia was significantly improved at 12 days and his sense of smell was recovered at day 40.
George Citroner is a health reporter for The Epoch Times.
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