On day 3 of illness, most COVID-19 patients lose their sense of smell and often suffer from a runny nose

A prospective cross-sectional telephone study examined the characteristics and symptoms of 103 patients

who were diagnosed with COVID-19 withinfor a six-week period at the Kantonsspital Aarau in Aarau, Switzerland. Patients were asked how many days they had COVID-19 symptoms and were also asked to describe the timing and severity of the loss or decrease in their sense of smell, along with other symptoms.

At least 61% of patients reported a decrease or loss of their sense of smell. The average onset of a decline or loss of smell was 3.4 days.

"In this study we also foundthat the severity of smell loss correlates with how severe your other COVID-19 symptoms will be. If anosmia, also known as loss of smell, is quite severe, patients have reported severe shortness of breath, higher fever and cough. If someone has a reduced sense of smell, we know they are within the first week of illness and have another week or two to expect more severe effects from COVID-19.”

Ahmad Sedaghat, assistant professor of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at the University of California College of Medicine and a UC Health physician.

The study also shows thatAn experimental antiviral drug, remdesivir, developed by Gilead Sciences for the initial treatment of Ebola, shows some promise in treating COVID-19 patients. The FDA also gave emergency approval for the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19 because a clinical study sponsored by the US National Institutes of Health found that patients experienced shorter recovery times with remdesivir compared to placebo.

Research shows that the declinesense of smell can be a significant indicator in patients in the early stages of the disease, as well as in those who may develop more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath. Decreased sense of smell can identify patients who would be excellent candidates for medication that better help in the early stages of the disease.

Scientists warn that although the loss of smellis an indicator of COVID-19, it is not the only factor. Younger patients and women in the study were also more likely to experience loss of smell. In addition, about 50% of the patients undergoing the study had nasal congestion and 35% had a runny nose. Previous studies have shown that these nasal symptoms were rare in COVID-19, and these symptoms were attributed to allergies rather than the new coronavirus.

"It just means more is needed.awareness of the nasal symptoms of COVID-19 so that people don't run around sneezing in public and think everything is fine because it's just an allergy. It could very well be COVID-19, and wearing masks as protective equipment for those you encounter is a good idea.”

Ahmad Sedaghat, assistant professor of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at the University of California College of Medicine and a UC Health physician.

At the same time, it is important to understand that no one will die because ofloss of smell, and this is not a symptom that will kill someone. But this is important because it helps to identify these COVID-19 patients as asymptomatic carriers so that they do not pass the disease on to others. It is now possible to potentially identify them in the early stages of the disease in order to start taking antiviral drugs and ultimately maximize the possibilities for effective treatment.

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