Encouraging Findings: Loss of Taste and Smell After COVID-19 Resolves Over Time, Study Reveals

 Encouraging Findings: Loss of Taste and Smell After COVID-19 Resolves Over Time, Study Reveals

A recent study brings positive news for individuals who experienced a loss of taste and smell due to mild COVID-19 infections. Italian researchers conducted a comprehensive examination of 88 people who encountered mild COVID-19 in the early months of the pandemic, specifically during March and April 2020. The participants, with an average age of 49 at the study's commencement, reported the loss of taste and smell as a notable side effect.

Mild COVID-19 cases were defined as illnesses without evidence of lower respiratory disease. The study, led by Dr. Paolo Boscolo-Rizzo from the University of Trieste in Italy, followed these individuals over three years to assess the long-term impact on their sensory functions.

Comparing the post-COVID group to 88 people who had never tested positive for COVID-19, the researchers found that rates of loss of smell and/or taste were comparable three years later. The findings, published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery on November 9, offer valuable insights into the recovery trajectory of sensory functions after mild COVID-19 infections.

The study revealed that olfactory dysfunction was similar between both groups at the three-year endpoint. Similarly, there were no significant differences in gustatory dysfunction between those who had experienced mild COVID-19 and those who had not, even after two and three years.

Importantly, the recovery of the senses was evident over time. While approximately 64.8% of individuals with mild COVID-19 reported a loss of taste and/or smell during their illness, this percentage decreased to about 32% after one year, 20.5% after two years, and approximately 16% after three years. Notably, this final figure closely resembled the percentage in the group that had never tested positive for COVID-19.

The researchers concluded that individuals who had recovered from mild COVID-19 infections could be reassured that olfactory recovery appears to continue over three years after the initial infection. This study contributes crucial information, as, until now, there was a lack of data on the long-term psychophysical assessment of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction post-COVID-19. As research continues to unravel the effects of COVID-19, these findings provide hope for those dealing with lingering sensory issues.