90% of people who lose sense of smell or taste from COVID-19 regain it within 2 years

90% of people who lose sense of smell or taste from COVID-19 regain it within 2 years

“The changes to smell and taste associated with COVID-19 infection and long COVID include complete loss of smell and/or taste, decreased smell and/or taste, and changes to smell and/or taste,” explained Dr. Vanessa Wu, at the UCI Health Post COVID-19 Recovery Service. … Regarding smell, the primary thinking is that the infection impacts cells in the nasal lining. “Local inflammation occurs in response to the infection, which disrupts the ability of those cells to make and/or display smell receptors inside the nose,” revealed Wu. “The cells that support the health and function of olfactory (smell) nerve cells may also be impacted.”