🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 16 (from laksa199)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa016.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53810610\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53810610\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/health-53810610","crawl_time":1773929444,"first_indexed_time":1597804970,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,bbc!www,\/news\/health-53810610 s443","src_root_hash":"1643509356818581016","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Coronavirus smell loss 'different from cold and flu'","meta_descriptions":["Covid-19 is not like other typical viral respiratory diseases and has some unique features, say experts."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"18 August 2020\nMichelle Roberts\nHealth editor, BBC News online\nGetty Images\nThe loss of smell that can accompany coronavirus is unique and different from that experienced by someone with a bad cold or flu, say European researchers who have studied the experiences of patients.\nWhen Covid-19 patients have smell loss it tends to be sudden and severe.\nAnd they usually don't have a blocked, stuffy or runny nose - most people with coronavirus can still breathe freely.\nAnother thing that sets them apart is their \"true\" loss of taste.\nIt's not that their taste is somewhat impaired because their sense of smell is out of action, say the researchers in the journal\nRhinology\n. Coronavirus patients with loss of taste really cannot tell the difference between bitter or sweet.\nExperts suspect this is because the pandemic virus affects the nerve cells directly involved with smell and taste sensation.\nThe main symptoms of coronavirus are:\nhigh temperature\nnew, continuous cough\nloss of smell or taste\nCoronavirus: What are the rules?\nCovid symptoms: What are they and how long should I self-isolate for?\nSmell research\nLead investigator Prof Carl Philpott, from the University of East Anglia, carried out smell and taste tests on 30 volunteers: 10 with Covid-19, 10 with bad colds and 10 healthy people with no cold or flu symptoms.\nSmell loss was much more profound in the Covid-19 patients. They were less able to identify smells, and they were not able to discern bitter or sweet tastes at all.\nProf Philpott, who works with the charity Fifth Sense, which was set up to help with people with smell and taste disorders, said: \"There really do appear to be distinguishing features that set the coronavirus apart from other respiratory viruses.\n\"This is very exciting because it means that smell and taste tests could be used to discriminate between Covid-19 patients and people with a regular cold or flu.\"\nHe said people could do their own smell and taste tests at home using products like coffee, garlic, oranges or lemons and sugar.\nHe stressed that diagnostic throat and nose swab tests were still essential if someone thought they might have coronavirus.\nThe senses of smell and taste return within a few weeks in most people who recover from coronavirus, he added.\nCoronavirus wiped out my sense of smell\nProf Andrew Lane is an expert in nose and sinus problems at Johns Hopkins University in the US.\nHe and his team have been studying tissue samples from the back of the nose to understand how coronavirus might cause loss of smell and have published the findings in the\nEuropean Respiratory Journal\n.\nThey identified extremely high levels of an enzyme which were present only in the area of the nose responsible for smelling.\nThis enzyme, called ACE-2 (angiotensin converting enzyme II), is thought to be the \"entry point\" that allows coronavirus to get into the cells of the body and cause an infection.\nThe nose is one of the places where Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, enters the body.\nProf Lane said: \"We are now doing more experiments in the lab to see whether the virus is indeed using these cells to access and infect the body.\n\"If that's the case, we may be able to tackle the infection with antiviral therapies delivered directly through the nose.\"\nSURVIVING THE VIRUS:\n'Our medical science is struggling to catch-up'\nCOVID-19:\nHow are dentists coping?","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to content](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/health-53810610#main-content)\n\n[Register](https:\/\/session.bbc.com\/session?action=register&userOrigin=BBCS_BBC&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fhealth-53810610)\n\n[Sign In](https:\/\/session.bbc.com\/session?userOrigin=BBCS_BBC&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fhealth-53810610)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/)\n- [News](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news)\n- [Sport](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport)\n- [Business](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/business)\n- [Technology](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/technology)\n- [Health](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/health)\n- [Culture](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/culture)\n- [Arts](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/arts)\n- [Travel](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/travel)\n- [Earth](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet)\n- [Audio](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio)\n- [Video](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video)\n- [Live](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/home)\n- [News](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news)\n  - [US & Canada](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/us-canada)\n  - [UK](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/uk)\n    - [UK Politics](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/politics)\n    - [England](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/england)\n    - [N. 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[Adventures](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/travel\/adventures)\n  - [The SpeciaList](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/travel\/specialist)\n- [Earth](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet)\n  - [Science](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/innovation\/science)\n  - [Natural Wonders](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet\/natural-wonders)\n  - [Climate Solutions](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet\/solutions)\n  - [Sustainable Business](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet\/sustainable-business)\n  - [Green Living](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet\/green-living)\n- [Audio](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio)\n  - [Podcast Categories](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio\/categories)\n  - [Radio](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio\/stations)\n  - [Audio FAQs](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/undefined)\n- [Video](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video)\n  - [BBC Maestro](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video\/bbc-maestro)\n  - [Discover the World](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video\/discover-the-world)\n- [Live](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live)\n  - [Live News](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live\/news)\n  - [Live Sport](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live\/sport)\n\n[Home](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/)\n\nNews\n\n[Sport](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport)\n\nBusiness\n\nTechnology\n\n[Health](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/health)\n\nCulture\n\nArts\n\nTravel\n\nEarth\n\nAudio\n\nVideo\n\nLive\n\n[Weather](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/weather)\n\n[Newsletters](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/newsletters)\n\n# Coronavirus smell loss 'different from cold and flu'\n18 August 2020\n\nShare\n\nSave\n\nMichelle RobertsHealth editor, BBC News online\n\nShare\n\nSave\n\n![Getty Images woman smelling a cut lemon](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/13F67\/production\/_113976718_gettyimages-1223367753.jpg.webp)Getty Images\n\n**The loss of smell that can accompany coronavirus is unique and different from that experienced by someone with a bad cold or flu, say European researchers who have studied the experiences of patients.**\n\nWhen Covid-19 patients have smell loss it tends to be sudden and severe.\n\nAnd they usually don't have a blocked, stuffy or runny nose - most people with coronavirus can still breathe freely.\n\nAnother thing that sets them apart is their \"true\" loss of taste.\n\nIt's not that their taste is somewhat impaired because their sense of smell is out of action, say the researchers in the journal [Rhinology](https:\/\/www.rhinologyjournal.com\/Current.php). Coronavirus patients with loss of taste really cannot tell the difference between bitter or sweet.\n\nExperts suspect this is because the pandemic virus affects the nerve cells directly involved with smell and taste sensation.\n\nThe main symptoms of coronavirus are:\n\n- high temperature\n- new, continuous cough\n- loss of smell or taste\n\nAnyone with these symptoms should self-isolate and arrange to have a [swab test to check if they have the virus](https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/coronavirus-covid-19\/testing-and-tracing\/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus\/). Members of their household should isolate too to prevent possible spread.\n\n- [Coronavirus: What are the rules?](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-51506729)\n\nCovid symptoms: What are they and how long should I self-isolate for?\n\n## Smell research\nLead investigator Prof Carl Philpott, from the University of East Anglia, carried out smell and taste tests on 30 volunteers: 10 with Covid-19, 10 with bad colds and 10 healthy people with no cold or flu symptoms.\n\nSmell loss was much more profound in the Covid-19 patients. They were less able to identify smells, and they were not able to discern bitter or sweet tastes at all.\n\nProf Philpott, who works with the charity Fifth Sense, which was set up to help with people with smell and taste disorders, said: \"There really do appear to be distinguishing features that set the coronavirus apart from other respiratory viruses.\n\n\"This is very exciting because it means that smell and taste tests could be used to discriminate between Covid-19 patients and people with a regular cold or flu.\"\n\nHe said people could do their own smell and taste tests at home using products like coffee, garlic, oranges or lemons and sugar.\n\nHe stressed that diagnostic throat and nose swab tests were still essential if someone thought they might have coronavirus.\n\nThe senses of smell and taste return within a few weeks in most people who recover from coronavirus, he added.\n\n- [Coronavirus wiped out my sense of smell](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-wales-53240622)\n\nProf Andrew Lane is an expert in nose and sinus problems at Johns Hopkins University in the US.\n\nHe and his team have been studying tissue samples from the back of the nose to understand how coronavirus might cause loss of smell and have published the findings in the [European Respiratory Journal](https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1183\/13993003.01948-2020).\n\nThey identified extremely high levels of an enzyme which were present only in the area of the nose responsible for smelling.\n\nThis enzyme, called ACE-2 (angiotensin converting enzyme II), is thought to be the \"entry point\" that allows coronavirus to get into the cells of the body and cause an infection.\n\nThe nose is one of the places where Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, enters the body.\n\nProf Lane said: \"We are now doing more experiments in the lab to see whether the virus is indeed using these cells to access and infect the body.\n\n\"If that's the case, we may be able to tackle the infection with antiviral therapies delivered directly through the nose.\"\n\n![Banner Image Reading Around the BBC - Blue](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/C82C\/production\/_112244215_aroundthebbc-bluebanner-nc.png.webp)\n\n- SURVIVING THE VIRUS: ['Our medical science is struggling to catch-up'](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/iplayer\/episode\/m000ljnb\/surviving-the-virus-my-brother-me?xtor=CS8-1000-%5BIn_Article_Promo_Box%5D-%5BNews_Promo_In_Article%5D-%5BNews_Promo_In_Article_BBCGeneric%5D-%5BPS_IPLAYER~N~m000ljnb~Surviving_the_Virus%5D)\n- COVID-19: [How are dentists coping?](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sounds\/play\/m000llx4?xtor=CS8-1000-%5BIn_Article_Promo_Box%5D-%5BNews_Promo_In_Article%5D-%5BNews_Promo_In_Article_BBCGeneric%5D-%5BPS_SOUNDS~N~m000llx4~Inside_Health_11th_Aug%5D)\n\n![Footer - Blue](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/EF3C\/production\/_112244216_398cb652-171b-4fc6-8346-c6a40c7d342e.png.webp)\n\n[UK adds loss of smell to coronavirus symptoms list](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/health-52704417)\n***\n- [Home](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/)\n- [News](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news)\n- [Sport](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport)\n- [Business](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/business)\n- [Technology](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/technology)\n- [Health](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/health)\n- [Culture](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/culture)\n- [Arts](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/arts)\n- [Travel](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/travel)\n- [Earth](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future-planet)\n- [Audio](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/audio)\n- [Video](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/video)\n- [Live](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/live)\n- [Weather](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/weather)\n- [BBC Shop](https:\/\/shop.bbc.com\/)\n- [BritBox](https:\/\/www.britbox.com\/?utm_source=bbc.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=footer)\n\nBBC in other languages\n\n### The BBC is in multiple languages\n#### Read the BBC In your own language\n[Oduu Afaan 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All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [**Read about our approach to external linking.**](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/editorialguidelines\/guidance\/feeds-and-links)","attrs_readable_markdown":"18 August 2020\n\nMichelle RobertsHealth editor, BBC News online\n\n![Getty Images woman smelling a cut lemon](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/13F67\/production\/_113976718_gettyimages-1223367753.jpg.webp)Getty Images\n\n**The loss of smell that can accompany coronavirus is unique and different from that experienced by someone with a bad cold or flu, say European researchers who have studied the experiences of patients.**\n\nWhen Covid-19 patients have smell loss it tends to be sudden and severe.\n\nAnd they usually don't have a blocked, stuffy or runny nose - most people with coronavirus can still breathe freely.\n\nAnother thing that sets them apart is their \"true\" loss of taste.\n\nIt's not that their taste is somewhat impaired because their sense of smell is out of action, say the researchers in the journal [Rhinology](https:\/\/www.rhinologyjournal.com\/Current.php). Coronavirus patients with loss of taste really cannot tell the difference between bitter or sweet.\n\nExperts suspect this is because the pandemic virus affects the nerve cells directly involved with smell and taste sensation.\n\nThe main symptoms of coronavirus are:\n\n- high temperature\n- new, continuous cough\n- loss of smell or taste\n\n- [Coronavirus: What are the rules?](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-51506729)\n\nCovid symptoms: What are they and how long should I self-isolate for?\n\nSmell research\n\nLead investigator Prof Carl Philpott, from the University of East Anglia, carried out smell and taste tests on 30 volunteers: 10 with Covid-19, 10 with bad colds and 10 healthy people with no cold or flu symptoms.\n\nSmell loss was much more profound in the Covid-19 patients. They were less able to identify smells, and they were not able to discern bitter or sweet tastes at all.\n\nProf Philpott, who works with the charity Fifth Sense, which was set up to help with people with smell and taste disorders, said: \"There really do appear to be distinguishing features that set the coronavirus apart from other respiratory viruses.\n\n\"This is very exciting because it means that smell and taste tests could be used to discriminate between Covid-19 patients and people with a regular cold or flu.\"\n\nHe said people could do their own smell and taste tests at home using products like coffee, garlic, oranges or lemons and sugar.\n\nHe stressed that diagnostic throat and nose swab tests were still essential if someone thought they might have coronavirus.\n\nThe senses of smell and taste return within a few weeks in most people who recover from coronavirus, he added.\n\n- [Coronavirus wiped out my sense of smell](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-wales-53240622)\n\nProf Andrew Lane is an expert in nose and sinus problems at Johns Hopkins University in the US.\n\nHe and his team have been studying tissue samples from the back of the nose to understand how coronavirus might cause loss of smell and have published the findings in the [European Respiratory Journal](https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1183\/13993003.01948-2020).\n\nThey identified extremely high levels of an enzyme which were present only in the area of the nose responsible for smelling.\n\nThis enzyme, called ACE-2 (angiotensin converting enzyme II), is thought to be the \"entry point\" that allows coronavirus to get into the cells of the body and cause an infection.\n\nThe nose is one of the places where Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, enters the body.\n\nProf Lane said: \"We are now doing more experiments in the lab to see whether the virus is indeed using these cells to access and infect the body.\n\n\"If that's the case, we may be able to tackle the infection with antiviral therapies delivered directly through the nose.\"\n\n![Banner Image Reading Around the BBC - Blue](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/C82C\/production\/_112244215_aroundthebbc-bluebanner-nc.png.webp)\n\n- SURVIVING THE VIRUS: ['Our medical science is struggling to catch-up'](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/iplayer\/episode\/m000ljnb\/surviving-the-virus-my-brother-me?xtor=CS8-1000-%5BIn_Article_Promo_Box%5D-%5BNews_Promo_In_Article%5D-%5BNews_Promo_In_Article_BBCGeneric%5D-%5BPS_IPLAYER~N~m000ljnb~Surviving_the_Virus%5D)\n- COVID-19: [How are dentists coping?](https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sounds\/play\/m000llx4?xtor=CS8-1000-%5BIn_Article_Promo_Box%5D-%5BNews_Promo_In_Article%5D-%5BNews_Promo_In_Article_BBCGeneric%5D-%5BPS_SOUNDS~N~m000llx4~Inside_Health_11th_Aug%5D)\n\n![Footer - Blue](https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/EF3C\/production\/_112244216_398cb652-171b-4fc6-8346-c6a40c7d342e.png.webp)","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	Coronavirus smell loss 'different from cold and flu'
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Boilerpipe Text	18 August 2020 Michelle Roberts Health editor, BBC News online Getty Images The loss of smell that can accompany coronavirus is unique and different from that experienced by someone with a bad cold or flu, say European researchers who have studied the experiences of patients. When Covid-19 patients have smell loss it tends to be sudden and severe. And they usually don't have a blocked, stuffy or runny nose - most people with coronavirus can still breathe freely. Another thing that sets them apart is their "true" loss of taste. It's not that their taste is somewhat impaired because their sense of smell is out of action, say the researchers in the journal Rhinology . Coronavirus patients with loss of taste really cannot tell the difference between bitter or sweet. Experts suspect this is because the pandemic virus affects the nerve cells directly involved with smell and taste sensation. The main symptoms of coronavirus are: high temperature new, continuous cough loss of smell or taste Coronavirus: What are the rules? Covid symptoms: What are they and how long should I self-isolate for? Smell research Lead investigator Prof Carl Philpott, from the University of East Anglia, carried out smell and taste tests on 30 volunteers: 10 with Covid-19, 10 with bad colds and 10 healthy people with no cold or flu symptoms. Smell loss was much more profound in the Covid-19 patients. They were less able to identify smells, and they were not able to discern bitter or sweet tastes at all. Prof Philpott, who works with the charity Fifth Sense, which was set up to help with people with smell and taste disorders, said: "There really do appear to be distinguishing features that set the coronavirus apart from other respiratory viruses. "This is very exciting because it means that smell and taste tests could be used to discriminate between Covid-19 patients and people with a regular cold or flu." He said people could do their own smell and taste tests at home using products like coffee, garlic, oranges or lemons and sugar. He stressed that diagnostic throat and nose swab tests were still essential if someone thought they might have coronavirus. The senses of smell and taste return within a few weeks in most people who recover from coronavirus, he added. Coronavirus wiped out my sense of smell Prof Andrew Lane is an expert in nose and sinus problems at Johns Hopkins University in the US. He and his team have been studying tissue samples from the back of the nose to understand how coronavirus might cause loss of smell and have published the findings in the European Respiratory Journal . They identified extremely high levels of an enzyme which were present only in the area of the nose responsible for smelling. This enzyme, called ACE-2 (angiotensin converting enzyme II), is thought to be the "entry point" that allows coronavirus to get into the cells of the body and cause an infection. The nose is one of the places where Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, enters the body. Prof Lane said: "We are now doing more experiments in the lab to see whether the virus is indeed using these cells to access and infect the body. "If that's the case, we may be able to tackle the infection with antiviral therapies delivered directly through the nose." SURVIVING THE VIRUS: 'Our medical science is struggling to catch-up' COVID-19: How are dentists coping?
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When Covid-19 patients have smell loss it tends to be sudden and severe. And they usually don't have a blocked, stuffy or runny nose - most people with coronavirus can still breathe freely. Another thing that sets them apart is their "true" loss of taste. It's not that their taste is somewhat impaired because their sense of smell is out of action, say the researchers in the journal [Rhinology](https://www.rhinologyjournal.com/Current.php). Coronavirus patients with loss of taste really cannot tell the difference between bitter or sweet. Experts suspect this is because the pandemic virus affects the nerve cells directly involved with smell and taste sensation. The main symptoms of coronavirus are: - high temperature - new, continuous cough - loss of smell or taste Anyone with these symptoms should self-isolate and arrange to have a [swab test to check if they have the virus](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/). Members of their household should isolate too to prevent possible spread. - [Coronavirus: What are the rules?](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51506729) Covid symptoms: What are they and how long should I self-isolate for? ## Smell research Lead investigator Prof Carl Philpott, from the University of East Anglia, carried out smell and taste tests on 30 volunteers: 10 with Covid-19, 10 with bad colds and 10 healthy people with no cold or flu symptoms. Smell loss was much more profound in the Covid-19 patients. They were less able to identify smells, and they were not able to discern bitter or sweet tastes at all. Prof Philpott, who works with the charity Fifth Sense, which was set up to help with people with smell and taste disorders, said: "There really do appear to be distinguishing features that set the coronavirus apart from other respiratory viruses. "This is very exciting because it means that smell and taste tests could be used to discriminate between Covid-19 patients and people with a regular cold or flu." He said people could do their own smell and taste tests at home using products like coffee, garlic, oranges or lemons and sugar. He stressed that diagnostic throat and nose swab tests were still essential if someone thought they might have coronavirus. The senses of smell and taste return within a few weeks in most people who recover from coronavirus, he added. - [Coronavirus wiped out my sense of smell](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53240622) Prof Andrew Lane is an expert in nose and sinus problems at Johns Hopkins University in the US. He and his team have been studying tissue samples from the back of the nose to understand how coronavirus might cause loss of smell and have published the findings in the [European Respiratory Journal](https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01948-2020). They identified extremely high levels of an enzyme which were present only in the area of the nose responsible for smelling. This enzyme, called ACE-2 (angiotensin converting enzyme II), is thought to be the "entry point" that allows coronavirus to get into the cells of the body and cause an infection. The nose is one of the places where Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, enters the body. Prof Lane said: "We are now doing more experiments in the lab to see whether the virus is indeed using these cells to access and infect the body. 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Readable Markdown	18 August 2020 Michelle RobertsHealth editor, BBC News online ![Getty Images woman smelling a cut lemon](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/13F67/production/_113976718_gettyimages-1223367753.jpg.webp)Getty Images The loss of smell that can accompany coronavirus is unique and different from that experienced by someone with a bad cold or flu, say European researchers who have studied the experiences of patients. When Covid-19 patients have smell loss it tends to be sudden and severe. And they usually don't have a blocked, stuffy or runny nose - most people with coronavirus can still breathe freely. Another thing that sets them apart is their "true" loss of taste. It's not that their taste is somewhat impaired because their sense of smell is out of action, say the researchers in the journal [Rhinology](https://www.rhinologyjournal.com/Current.php). Coronavirus patients with loss of taste really cannot tell the difference between bitter or sweet. Experts suspect this is because the pandemic virus affects the nerve cells directly involved with smell and taste sensation. The main symptoms of coronavirus are: - high temperature - new, continuous cough - loss of smell or taste - [Coronavirus: What are the rules?](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51506729) Covid symptoms: What are they and how long should I self-isolate for? Smell research Lead investigator Prof Carl Philpott, from the University of East Anglia, carried out smell and taste tests on 30 volunteers: 10 with Covid-19, 10 with bad colds and 10 healthy people with no cold or flu symptoms. Smell loss was much more profound in the Covid-19 patients. They were less able to identify smells, and they were not able to discern bitter or sweet tastes at all. Prof Philpott, who works with the charity Fifth Sense, which was set up to help with people with smell and taste disorders, said: "There really do appear to be distinguishing features that set the coronavirus apart from other respiratory viruses. "This is very exciting because it means that smell and taste tests could be used to discriminate between Covid-19 patients and people with a regular cold or flu." He said people could do their own smell and taste tests at home using products like coffee, garlic, oranges or lemons and sugar. He stressed that diagnostic throat and nose swab tests were still essential if someone thought they might have coronavirus. The senses of smell and taste return within a few weeks in most people who recover from coronavirus, he added. - [Coronavirus wiped out my sense of smell](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53240622) Prof Andrew Lane is an expert in nose and sinus problems at Johns Hopkins University in the US. He and his team have been studying tissue samples from the back of the nose to understand how coronavirus might cause loss of smell and have published the findings in the [European Respiratory Journal](https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01948-2020). They identified extremely high levels of an enzyme which were present only in the area of the nose responsible for smelling. This enzyme, called ACE-2 (angiotensin converting enzyme II), is thought to be the "entry point" that allows coronavirus to get into the cells of the body and cause an infection. The nose is one of the places where Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, enters the body. Prof Lane said: "We are now doing more experiments in the lab to see whether the virus is indeed using these cells to access and infect the body. "If that's the case, we may be able to tackle the infection with antiviral therapies delivered directly through the nose." ![Banner Image Reading Around the BBC - Blue](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/C82C/production/_112244215_aroundthebbc-bluebanner-nc.png.webp) - SURVIVING THE VIRUS: ['Our medical science is struggling to catch-up'](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000ljnb/surviving-the-virus-my-brother-me?xtor=CS8-1000-%5BIn_Article_Promo_Box%5D-%5BNews_Promo_In_Article%5D-%5BNews_Promo_In_Article_BBCGeneric%5D-%5BPS_IPLAYER~N~m000ljnb~Surviving_the_Virus%5D) - COVID-19: [How are dentists coping?](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000llx4?xtor=CS8-1000-%5BIn_Article_Promo_Box%5D-%5BNews_Promo_In_Article%5D-%5BNews_Promo_In_Article_BBCGeneric%5D-%5BPS_SOUNDS~N~m000llx4~Inside_Health_11th_Aug%5D) ![Footer - Blue](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/EF3C/production/_112244216_398cb652-171b-4fc6-8346-c6a40c7d342e.png.webp)
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