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Temporary loss of smell, or anosmia, due to COVID-19 has received much attention as experts have learned more about how the coronavirus affects the entire body. Sensation of smell or taste – which was not recognized as an official symptom early in the pandemic – has become a hallmark of the virus.
Now, there is a strange but equally strange symptom that a growing number are struggling with: parosmia, a distortion sense of smell.
While the exact number of people dealing with parosmia is not known for sure, one recent study found that about half of people with anosmia due to COVID-19 also experience parosmia.
While the movement may change smell, for most people, it does make things smell very unpleasant. People have said that it makes some foods smell and taste like waste; some have recitation that they can’t even eat their favorite foods.
But what exactly causes parosmia? And can it be treated after COVID-19? Here, doctors explain what you need to know if your senses are now spoiling your food.
What is parosmia, exactly?
Parosmia is a change in the normal perception of smells, such as when the smell of something familiar is distorted, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Parosmia can also cause something that usually smells nice for a bad smell.
“It usually doesn’t last forever, but it could last for a while,” says Eric Holbrook, MD, director of rhinology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and associate professor of Otolaryngology – Head Surgery and Neck at Harvard Medical School. Most recover within two to four weeks, but some may cope for several months or more.
What do you smell when you have parosmia?
It depends. People on Twitter have reported a range of smells, including waste and namely baby oil. But, technically, parosmia just means that your sense of smell has changed in some way. “Everyone seems to have a unique experience,” says Dr Holbrook. “But in many cases, it’s not enjoyable.”
Some people with parosmia experience the same unpleasant smell for a number of things (so both lemons and coffee can smell like garbage) while others experience specific smells for different things, Dr. Holbrook says.
What causes parosmia?
There can be a number of different reasons. Parosmia is very common after you have lost your sense of smell due to any virus. In fact, more than half of people who lose their breath as a result of a virus develop parosmia.
The disorder can also occur after a head injury, which can cause lesions in the parts of the central nervous system that are responsible for taste processing.
While the exact cause of parosmia is not clear, the prevailing theory is that when the olfactory nerves (which connect your nose to your brain) are damaged by a virus, head injury, or some other cause, the connection between your nose and the brain is broken, explains Dr. Holbrook. When the nerves start to grow again, they may go to a different place in the brain than before, resulting in an unpleasant odor.
How is parosmia treated?
Parosmia is usually treated with something called olfactory training or smell training, which involves absorbing a specific smell and thinking about what that smell is. ought to smell like. So, if you were to get into the smell of lemon, you would try to remember what a lemon smell is like at the same time.
Research shows that it can be an effective treatment option. In a recent study, six-month odor trainers demonstrated “clinically relevant improvements” in their ability to produce fragrant odors by the end of the trial.
What should you do if you think you have parosmia?
While you can do odor training on your own at home, Dr. Holbrook still recommends seeing a doctor if you have any type of odor loss or body odor loss. “Any time there is a rash in your gut and if it persists, you should be seen by a doctor,” he says. “You want to find out what’s causing it.”
Parosmia is certainly troubling but there is a silver lining: “It tells us that nerves are regenerating, and it is one step towards regaining your sense of smell,” says Dr. Holbrok says. “It’s not enjoyable, but it can be a good sign.”
This article is inaccurate from the media era. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic grows rapidly and the scientific community’s understanding of the novel coronavirus develops, some of the information may have changed since it was last updated. While we aim to maintain all of our stories, visit online resources from the CDC, WHO, and for local public health department to stay up to date with the latest news. Always consult your doctor for professional medical advice.
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