🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 51 (from laksa088)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa051.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.cnn.com/2020/04/03/health/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/03/health/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/04\/03\/health\/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness","crawl_time":1774894846,"first_indexed_time":1746105350,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,cnn!www,\/2020\/04\/03\/health\/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness s443","src_root_hash":"2312100192101524051","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Loss of smell from coronavirus: How to test your sense | CNN","meta_descriptions":["New research is showing a connection between a loss of smell and taste and the coronavirus. Ease your mind with this simple sniff test you can do at home."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"CNN\n — \nIn mild to moderate cases of coronavirus, a loss of smell, and therefore taste, is emerging as one of the most unusual early signs of the disease called Covid-19.\n“What’s called anosmia, which basically means loss of smell, seems to be a symptom that a number of patients developed,” CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta told CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota on\nNew Day.\n“It may be linked to loss of taste, linked to loss of appetite, we’re not sure – but it’s clearly something to look out for,” Gupta said. “Sometimes these early symptoms aren’t the classic ones.”\nAd Feedback\nAd Feedback\nWhile fever, cough and shortness of breath are the key classic signs of contracting Covid-19, a recent analysis of milder cases in South Korea found the major presenting symptom in 30% of patients was a loss of smell. In Germany, more than two in three confirmed cases had anosmia.\nIn response, the\nAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery\nand\nENT UK,\na professional organization representing ear, nose and throat surgeons in the United Kingdom, are calling for the loss of smell or taste to be added to the screening tools for possible Covid-19 infection.\nBut those with worrisome signs – which may or may not be coronavirus – are being told to stay home and monitor their symptoms so as not to stress already overburdened hospitals, clinics and heath care workers struggling to save lives.\nSo is there anything you can do at home to test to see if you’re suffering a loss of smell?\nThe answer is yes, by using the “jellybean test.”\n“You take a jellybean in one hand, and with the other hand you hold your nose tightly so you’re not getting any air flow,” said Steven Munger, director of the Center for Smell and Taste at the University of Florida.\n“You put the jellybean in your mouth and chew it. Let’s say it’s a fruit flavor jellybean: if you get the savory plus the sweetness of the jellybean you’ll know you have functional taste,” Munger said.\n“Then, while still chewing, suddenly release your nose. If you have a sense of smell you’ll suddenly get all the odors and you’ll say ‘Oh! that’s a lemon jellybean,’ or ‘Oh! that’s cherry.’ It’s really a very dramatic, quick, ‘Wow’ type of response,” he explained.\n“So if you can go from sweet and sour to the full flavor and know what the flavor is,” Munger said, “then your sense of smell is probably in pretty good shape.”\nThe scientific name for this process is retro nasal olfaction, where the odors flow from the back of your mouth up through your nasal pharynx and into your nasal cavity.\nBut what if you don’t have a jellybean? You can use other foods too, said ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Erich Voigt, director of the division of sleep otolaryngology at NYU Langone Health.\n“The pure smell sense would be if you can smell a particular substance that’s not stimulating other nerves,” Voigt said. “So some examples of that would be if you can smell ground coffee or coffee brewing, or if you can smell someone peeling an orange. That’s the smell sense.”\nBut you have to be careful, because it’s easy to think you’re using your sense of smell when you’re not, Voigt said.\n“So for example, ammonia or cleaning solutions, those stimulate the trigeminal nerve, which is an irritant nerve,” he said. “And so people will think, ‘Oh, I can smell Clorox, I can smell ammonia, which means I can smell.’ But no, that’s not correct. They’re not actually smelling, they’re using the trigeminal nerve.”\nStill aren’t sure if you’re getting it right? Check the internet for medically-based scratch and sniff tests.\nOf course, not everyone who flunks a smell test is going to have coronavirus. Any respiratory virus, such as cold or flu, will temporarily impact smell and taste, sometimes even permanently.\n“The amount of swelling that can occur in the nose from the viral effect can prevent the smell particles from getting all the way up to the top of the nose where the olfactory nerve is,” Voigt said. “When that swelling goes down, the sense of smell can return.”\nBut there are also neurotoxic viruses, some of which are in the common cold category, Voigt said.\n“If they’re neurotoxic, that means that they harm the olfactory nerve and it becomes essentially nonfunctional,” he added. “Many of those cases can recover smell with time, but sometimes it’s a permanent loss.”\nA partial or complete chronic loss of smell is incredibly common, Munger said, affecting millions of Americans long before the novel coronavirus burst upon the scene.\n“About 13% of the population has a significant smell or taste impairment,” he said.\nBesides cold and flu, other causes of smell loss include nasal polyps, tumors, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injury or head trauma, including whiplash.\n“If someone has been in an auto accident or had a whiplash injury or head injury, that could also impact the little nerves as they go from the brain down to the nose,” Voigt said. “So a whiplash injury could also cause a permanent loss of sense of smell.”\nA loss of taste is commonly associated with the loss of smell, because we rely on smell to identify flavors. But there can also be medical reasons: Some medications can affect taste; chemotherapy and radiation therapy can certainly disrupt taste; and then there is physical damage, such as nerves severed during dental surgeries.\nIf you believe you’ve lost your sense of smell (and do not have a medical reason to explain the loss), experts say to take the symptom seriously.\n“At this point I would be fairly confident to put it in the same category as, say, fever,” said Munger. “Obviously a variety of things can cause a fever. But if you lose your sense of smell quickly you want to self-isolate and contact your physician to talk about what actionable steps you might want to take.”\nVoigt agrees: “My recommendation is you should self-isolate and quarantine for about 14 days and don’t spread that virus to other people,” he said. “If you have to go out, wear a mask so that you’re not sharing the virus with others.”\nIf you do experience a loss of smell, take care because there are dangers such as not being able to smell a gas leak, or perceive rotten milk or rancid food.\nAnd be aware that the loss of smell can occur further into the illness, along with other, more common symptoms.\n“It can precede the viral symptoms,” Voigt said. “There were people with very mild illness symptoms, but they did lose their sense of smell. And there are other patients where the loss of smell kicked in after they were having fever and chills.\n“So the timeline is not predictive,” he stressed. “And it’s also not a predictive sign of the severity of the disease – it does not predict that you’re going to get the bad pulmonary complications at this point. We don’t have any data saying that.”","attrs_markdown":"Thank You\\!\n\nYour effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.\n\nClose\n\nAd Feedback\n\n[Health](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health)\n\n[Life, But Better](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/interactive\/life-but-better\/)\n\n[Fitness](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/fitness)\n\n[Food](http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/food)\n\n[Sleep](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/sleep)\n\n[Mindfulness](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/mindfulness)\n\n[Relationships](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/relationships)\n\n[More]()\n\n[Life, But Better](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/interactive\/life-but-better\/)   [Fitness](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/fitness)   [Food](http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/food)   [Sleep](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/sleep)   [Mindfulness](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/mindfulness)   [Relationships](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/relationships)\n\n[Watch](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/subscription\/all-access)   [Listen](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio)\n\nSubscribe\n\nSign in\n\nMy Account\n\n- [Settings](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/account\/settings)\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/newsletters)\n- [Topics you follow](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/follow?iid=fw_var-nav)\n- [Sign out](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/04\/03\/health\/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness)\n\nYour CNN account Sign in to your CNN account\n***\nSign in\n\nMy Account\n\n- [Settings](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/account\/settings)\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/newsletters)\n- [Topics you follow](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/follow?iid=fw_var-nav)\n- [Sign out](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/04\/03\/health\/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness)\n\nYour CNN account Sign in to your CNN account\n***\n[Listen](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio)   [Watch](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/subscription\/all-access)\n***\nEdition\n\n[US](https:\/\/us.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n\n[International](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n\n[Arabic](https:\/\/arabic.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n\n[Español](https:\/\/cnnespanol.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n\nEdition\n\n- [US](https:\/\/us.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n- [International](https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n- [Arabic](https:\/\/arabic.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n- [Español](https:\/\/cnnespanol.cnn.com\/?hpt=header_edition-picker)\n***\n[Life, But Better](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/interactive\/life-but-better\/)\n\n[Fitness](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/fitness)\n\n[Food](http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/food)\n\n[Sleep](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/sleep)\n\n[Mindfulness](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/mindfulness)\n\n[Relationships](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/relationships)\n***\nFollow CNN\n\nDownload the CNN App\n***\n\n- [US](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us)\n  - [Crime & Justice](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/crime-and-justice)\n  - [Immigration](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/immigration)\n  - [Education](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/education)\n  - [Transportation](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/transportation)\n  - [Race & Identity](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/race-and-identity)\n- [World](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world)\n  - [Africa](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/africa)\n  - [Americas](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/americas)\n  - [Asia](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/asia)\n  - [Australia](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/australia)\n  - [China](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/china)\n  - [Europe](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/europe)\n  - [India](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/india)\n  - [Middle East](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/middle-east)\n  - [United Kingdom](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/united-kingdom)\n- [Politics](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/politics)\n  - [Trump](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/politics\/president-donald-trump-47)\n  - [Facts First](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/politics\/fact-check)\n  - [CNN Polls](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/polling)\n  - [2026 Elections](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/election\/2026)\n  - [Redistricting Tracker](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/politics\/state-redistricting-maps-vis\/index.html)\n  - [Epstein Files](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/politics\/epstein-files)\n- [Business](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business)\n  - [Tech](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/tech)\n  - [Media](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/media)\n  - [Calculators](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/financial-calculators)\n  - [Videos](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/videos)\n- [Markets](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/markets)\n  - [Pre-markets](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/markets\/premarkets)\n  - [After-Hours](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/markets\/after-hours)\n  - [Fear & Greed](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/markets\/fear-and-greed)\n  - [Investing](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/investing)\n  - [Markets Now](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/markets-now)\n  - [Nightcap](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/markets\/nightcap)\n- [Health](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health)\n  - [Life, But Better](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/interactive\/life-but-better\/)\n  - [Fitness](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/fitness)\n  - [Food](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/food)\n  - [Sleep](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/sleep)\n  - [Mindfulness](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/mindfulness)\n  - [Relationships](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/relationships)\n- [CNN Underscored](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored)\n  - [Electronics](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/electronics)\n  - [Fashion](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/fashion)\n  - [Beauty](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/beauty)\n  - [Health & Fitness](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/health-fitness)\n  - [Home](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/home)\n  - [Reviews](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/reviews)\n  - [Deals](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/deals)\n  - [Gifts](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/gifts)\n  - [Travel](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/travel)\n  - [Outdoors](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/outdoors)\n  - [Pets](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/pets)\n- [Entertainment](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/entertainment)\n  - [Movies](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/entertainment\/movies)\n  - [Television](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/entertainment\/tv-shows)\n  - [Celebrity](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/entertainment\/celebrities)\n- [Tech](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/tech)\n  - [Innovate](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/tech\/innovate)\n- [Style](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style)\n  - [Arts](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style\/arts)\n  - [Design](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style\/design)\n  - [Fashion](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style\/fashion)\n  - [Architecture](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style\/architecture)\n  - [Luxury](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style\/luxury)\n  - [Beauty](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style\/beauty)\n  - [Video](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style\/videos)\n- [Travel](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/travel)\n  - [Destinations](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/travel\/destinations)\n  - [Food & Drink](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/travel\/food-and-drink)\n  - [Stay](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/travel\/stay)\n  - [Videos](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/travel\/videos)\n- [Sports](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/sports)\n  - [Pro Football](https:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/nfl)\n  - [College Football](https:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/college-football)\n  - [Basketball](https:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/nba)\n  - [Baseball](https:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/mlb)\n  - [Soccer](https:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/world-football)\n  - [Olympics](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/sport\/milan-cortina-winter-olympics-2026)\n- [Science](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/science)\n  - [Space](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/science\/space)\n  - [Life](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/science\/life)\n  - [Unearthed](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/science\/unearthed)\n- [Climate](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/climate)\n  - [Solutions](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/climate\/solutions)\n  - [Weather](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/weather)\n- [Weather](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/weather)\n  - [Video](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/weather\/video)\n  - [Climate](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/climate)\n- [Ukraine-Russia War](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/europe\/ukraine)\n- [Israel-Hamas War](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/middleeast\/israel)\n- [Watch](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/watch)\n  - [Featured](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/watch)\n  - [Shows & Films](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/watch#shows-films)\n  - [Network TV](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/videos\/live)\n  - [Clips](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/videos)\n  - [CNN Headlines](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/videos\/fast\/cnn-headlines)\n  - [CNN Shorts](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/shorts\/cnn-shorts)\n  - [Shows A-Z](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/tv\/all-shows)\n  - [CNN 10](https:\/\/www.cnn10.com\/)\n  - [CNN TV Schedules](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/tv\/schedule\/cnn)\n- [Listen](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio)\n  - [CNN 5 Things](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/5-things)\n  - [Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/chasing-life)\n  - [The Assignment with Audie Cornish](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/the-assignment)\n  - [One Thing](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/one-thing)\n  - [Tug of War](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/tug-of-war)\n  - [CNN Political Briefing](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/political-briefing)\n  - [The Axe Files](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/axe-files)\n  - [All There Is with Anderson Cooper](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/all-there-is-with-anderson-cooper)\n  - [All CNN Audio podcasts](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio)\n- [Games](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/games)\n  - [Daily Crossword](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/games\/play\/cnn-crossword)\n  - [Jumble Crossword](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/games\/play\/jumble-crossword-daily)\n  - [Photo Shuffle](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/games\/play\/photo-shuffle)\n  - [Sudoblock](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/games\/play\/sudoblock)\n  - [Sudoku](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/games\/play\/daily-sudoku)\n  - [5 Things Quiz](https:\/\/cnn.it\/5thingsquiz)\n- [Amazon Prime Day](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/deals\/prime-day)\n- [About CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/about)\n  - [Subscribe](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/subscription?source=sub_web_footersubnav-link)\n  - [Photos](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/photos)\n  - [Investigations](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/cnn-investigates)\n  - [CNN Profiles](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/profiles)\n  - [CNN Leadership](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/profiles\/cnn-leadership)\n  - [CNN Newsletters](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/newsletters)\n  - [Work for CNN](https:\/\/careers.wbd.com\/cnnjobs)\n***\nDownload the CNN App\n\n# Loss of smell from coronavirus: How to test your sense\nBy Sandee LaMotte, CNN\n\n6 min read\n\nUpdated 10:06 AM EDT, Fri April 3, 2020\n\nLink Copied\\!\n\n**Unable to load video**\n\nPlease try again later.\n\nError occurred while fetching labs\n\nSubtitles\n\n- Off\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nThis one thing could stop the spread of Covid-19\n\n01:09   • Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\nCoronavirus  16 videos\n\n![brian china economic crisis wang 0715](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\n'I'm losing my mind': Chinese depositor loses life savings in bank\n\n03:58\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: A man is asked to cough into his arm as part of testing for COVID-19, by a member of the Los Angeles Fire Department wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) in Skid Row, amidst the coronavirus pandemic on April 21, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 43 people tested positive for COVID-19 at one nearby Skid Row homeless shelter. (Photo by Mario Tama\/Getty Images)](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nDoctor: Covid-19 BA.5 variant is highly transmissible\n\n02:31\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![Fauci](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nDr. Fauci explains why new BA.5 subvariant is concerning\n\n04:58\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![coronavirus social distancing](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nThis one thing could stop the spread of Covid-19\n\n01:09\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![gupta screengrab vpx](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nWill approaching winter mean new Covid-19 surge?\n\n04:20\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![china corona nyc](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nArtist wears 27 hazmat suits to protest China's policies\n\n03:08\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![hong kong tourism](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nSee how Hong Kong is trying to revitalize itself after Covid-19\n\n02:23\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![Late night Joe Biden](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nSee late night reactions to President Biden claiming pandemic over\n\n01:45\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: CNN Business\n\n![Patient using video game treatment long haul covid gupta pkg vpx](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nDr. Gupta: This treatment for 'brain fog' from long-Covid just might surprise you\n\n04:05\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![joe rogan aaron rogers covid vaccination orig mg\\_00000000.png](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nAaron Rodgers tells Joe Rogan why he didn't get vaccinated for Covid\n\n02:16\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![BARTLETT, ILLINOIS - MAY 01: Seven-year-old Hamza Haqqani, a 2nd grade student at Al-Huda Academy, uses a computer to participate in an E-learning class with his teacher and classmates while at his home on May 01, 2020 in Bartlett, Illinois. Al-Huda Academy, an Islam based private school that teaches pre-school through the 6th grade students, has had to adopt an E-learning program to finish the school year after all schools in the state were forced to cancel classes in an attempt to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Scott Olson\/Getty Images)](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nHow Covid upended children's lives\n\n10:16\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\n'Wasn't too surprising': Doctor reacts to Biden's positive Covid test\n\n02:50\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![video thumbnail wuhan market 1](https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220727082531-video-thumbnail-wuhan-market-1.jpg?c=16x9&q=w_250,c_fill)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nNew studies suggest Covid-19 likely originated from Wuhan wet market\n\n01:39\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![Dr. Anthony Fauci](https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220723084617-dr-anthony-fauci.jpg?c=16x9&q=w_250,c_fill)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nDr. Fauci gives update on Biden's Covid-19 infection\n\n05:50\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![doctor jonathan reiner](https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220721112856-doctor-jonathan-reiner.jpg?c=16x9&q=w_250,c_fill)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\n'This was entirely predictable': Doctor on Biden testing positive for Covid-19\n\n01:22\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![Jill Biden](https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220721110825-jill-biden.jpg?c=16x9&q=w_250,c_fill)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nJill Biden speaks out after President Biden contracts Covid-19\n\n00:45\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![brian china economic crisis wang 0715](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\n'I'm losing my mind': Chinese depositor loses life savings in bank\n\n03:58\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: A man is asked to cough into his arm as part of testing for COVID-19, by a member of the Los Angeles Fire Department wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) in Skid Row, amidst the coronavirus pandemic on April 21, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 43 people tested positive for COVID-19 at one nearby Skid Row homeless shelter. (Photo by Mario Tama\/Getty Images)](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nDoctor: Covid-19 BA.5 variant is highly transmissible\n\n02:31\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![Fauci](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nDr. Fauci explains why new BA.5 subvariant is concerning\n\n04:58\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![coronavirus social distancing](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nThis one thing could stop the spread of Covid-19\n\n01:09\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![gupta screengrab vpx](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nWill approaching winter mean new Covid-19 surge?\n\n04:20\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\n![china corona nyc](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg)\n\nVideo Ad Feedback\n\nArtist wears 27 hazmat suits to protest China's policies\n\n03:08\n\nNow playing\n\n• Source: [CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/)\n\nSee more videos\n\nCNN\n\n—\n\nIn mild to moderate cases of coronavirus, a loss of smell, and therefore taste, is emerging as one of the most unusual early signs of the disease called Covid-19.\n\n[![coronavirus animation](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Related article Coronavirus symptoms: A list and when to seek help](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/03\/31\/health\/coronavirus-symptoms-list-what-to-do-wellness\/index.html)\n\n“What’s called anosmia, which basically means loss of smell, seems to be a symptom that a number of patients developed,” CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta told CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota on [New Day.](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/03\/23\/health\/coronavirus-symptoms-smell-intl\/index.html)\n\n“It may be linked to loss of taste, linked to loss of appetite, we’re not sure – but it’s clearly something to look out for,” Gupta said. “Sometimes these early symptoms aren’t the classic ones.”\n\nAd Feedback\n\nAd Feedback\n\nWhile fever, cough and shortness of breath are the key classic signs of contracting Covid-19, a recent analysis of milder cases in South Korea found the major presenting symptom in 30% of patients was a loss of smell. In Germany, more than two in three confirmed cases had anosmia.\n\nIn response, the [American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery](https:\/\/www.entnet.org\/content\/aao-hns-anosmia-hyposmia-and-dysgeusia-symptoms-coronavirus-disease) and [ENT UK,](https:\/\/www.entuk.org\/sites\/default\/files\/files\/Loss%20of%20sense%20of%20smell%20as%20marker%20of%20COVID.pdf) a professional organization representing ear, nose and throat surgeons in the United Kingdom, are calling for the loss of smell or taste to be added to the screening tools for possible Covid-19 infection.\n\nBut those with worrisome signs – which may or may not be coronavirus – are being told to stay home and monitor their symptoms so as not to stress already overburdened hospitals, clinics and heath care workers struggling to save lives.\n\n[![coronavirus animation](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Related article What is coronavirus and Covid-19? An explainer](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/03\/31\/health\/what-is-coronavirus-covid-19-wellness\/index.html)\n\nSo is there anything you can do at home to test to see if you’re suffering a loss of smell?\n\nThe answer is yes, by using the “jellybean test.”\n\n## ‘Jellybean test’\n“You take a jellybean in one hand, and with the other hand you hold your nose tightly so you’re not getting any air flow,” said Steven Munger, director of the Center for Smell and Taste at the University of Florida.\n\n[![kitten asleep STOCK](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Shutterstock Related article Cats may get coronavirus, but experts say it's nothing to worry about](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/04\/02\/health\/cats-dogs-ferrets-coronavirus-wellness\/index.html)\n\n“You put the jellybean in your mouth and chew it. Let’s say it’s a fruit flavor jellybean: if you get the savory plus the sweetness of the jellybean you’ll know you have functional taste,” Munger said.\n\n“Then, while still chewing, suddenly release your nose. If you have a sense of smell you’ll suddenly get all the odors and you’ll say ‘Oh! that’s a lemon jellybean,’ or ‘Oh! that’s cherry.’ It’s really a very dramatic, quick, ‘Wow’ type of response,” he explained.\n\n“So if you can go from sweet and sour to the full flavor and know what the flavor is,” Munger said, “then your sense of smell is probably in pretty good shape.”\n\n### **More of CNN's coronavirus coverage**\n[**Live updates:** US](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/live-news\/us-coronavirus-update-04-23-20\/index.html)\n\n[**Live updates:** Worldwide](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/live-news\/coronavirus-pandemic-04-23-20-intl\/index.html)\n\n[**Map:** Covid-19’s spread across the US](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/interactive\/2020\/health\/coronavirus-us-maps-and-cases\/)\n\n[**Photos:** Life returns in Wuhan – slowly](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/interactive\/2020\/04\/world\/wuhan-coronavirus-cnnphotos\/index.html)\n\n[**Video:** Three ways to ensure your food is safe](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/videos\/health\/2020\/03\/26\/coronavirus-covid-19-food-grocery-delivery-safety-tips-orig.cnn\/video\/playlists\/covid-19-coronavirus-how-to-service\/)\n\n[**Guide:** How to help and get help](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/interactive\/2020\/health\/coronavirus-how-to-help\/#topic-menu)\n\n[**Q\\&A:** Is it true young people with coronavirus are also having blood clots and strokes?](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/interactive\/2020\/health\/coronavirus-questions-answers\/)\n\nThe scientific name for this process is retro nasal olfaction, where the odors flow from the back of your mouth up through your nasal pharynx and into your nasal cavity.\n\nBut what if you don’t have a jellybean? You can use other foods too, said ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Erich Voigt, director of the division of sleep otolaryngology at NYU Langone Health.\n\n“The pure smell sense would be if you can smell a particular substance that’s not stimulating other nerves,” Voigt said. “So some examples of that would be if you can smell ground coffee or coffee brewing, or if you can smell someone peeling an orange. That’s the smell sense.”\n\nBut you have to be careful, because it’s easy to think you’re using your sense of smell when you’re not, Voigt said.\n\n[![SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 20: A general view of Bondi Beach is seen on March 20, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. The Australian government has banned non-essential gatherings of 100 or more people indoors, along with outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday announced Australia would be closing its borders to all visitors for six months. The travel ban will be placed on all people who are not Australian residents or their direct relations coming to the country from 9pm on Friday night. There are now 756 confirmed cases of COVID-19 In Australia while the death toll now stands at seven. (Photo by Jenny Evans\/Getty Images)](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 20: A general view of Bondi Beach is seen on March 20, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. The Australian government has banned non-essential gatherings of 100 or more people indoors, along with outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday announced Australia would be closing its borders to all visitors for six months. The travel ban will be placed on all people who are not Australian residents or their direct relations coming to the country from 9pm on Friday night. There are now 756 confirmed cases of COVID-19 In Australia while the death toll now stands at seven. (Photo by Jenny Evans\/Getty Images) Jenny Evans\/Getty Images Related article Humans are terrible at social distancing. Here's what to do about it](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/04\/02\/health\/coronavirus-human-contact-wellness-intl\/index.html)\n\n“So for example, ammonia or cleaning solutions, those stimulate the trigeminal nerve, which is an irritant nerve,” he said. “And so people will think, ‘Oh, I can smell Clorox, I can smell ammonia, which means I can smell.’ But no, that’s not correct. They’re not actually smelling, they’re using the trigeminal nerve.”\n\nStill aren’t sure if you’re getting it right? Check the internet for medically-based scratch and sniff tests.\n\n## Smell loss is common\nOf course, not everyone who flunks a smell test is going to have coronavirus. Any respiratory virus, such as cold or flu, will temporarily impact smell and taste, sometimes even permanently.\n\n“The amount of swelling that can occur in the nose from the viral effect can prevent the smell particles from getting all the way up to the top of the nose where the olfactory nerve is,” Voigt said. “When that swelling goes down, the sense of smell can return.”\n\nBut there are also neurotoxic viruses, some of which are in the common cold category, Voigt said.\n\n“If they’re neurotoxic, that means that they harm the olfactory nerve and it becomes essentially nonfunctional,” he added. “Many of those cases can recover smell with time, but sometimes it’s a permanent loss.”\n\n[![02 hand washing STOCK](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Shuttertstock Related article Why soap, sanitizer and warm water work against Covid-19 and other viruses](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/03\/24\/health\/soap-warm-water-hand-sanitizer-coronavirus-wellness-scn\/index.html)\n\nA partial or complete chronic loss of smell is incredibly common, Munger said, affecting millions of Americans long before the novel coronavirus burst upon the scene.\n\n“About 13% of the population has a significant smell or taste impairment,” he said.\n\nBesides cold and flu, other causes of smell loss include nasal polyps, tumors, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injury or head trauma, including whiplash.\n\n“If someone has been in an auto accident or had a whiplash injury or head injury, that could also impact the little nerves as they go from the brain down to the nose,” Voigt said. “So a whiplash injury could also cause a permanent loss of sense of smell.”\n\nA loss of taste is commonly associated with the loss of smell, because we rely on smell to identify flavors. But there can also be medical reasons: Some medications can affect taste; chemotherapy and radiation therapy can certainly disrupt taste; and then there is physical damage, such as nerves severed during dental surgeries.\n\n## A coronavirus connection\nIf you believe you’ve lost your sense of smell (and do not have a medical reason to explain the loss), experts say to take the symptom seriously.\n\n[![04 bad sleep](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Shutterstock Related article Craving carbs and sleeping badly while social distancing? Here's how to cope](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/03\/23\/health\/sleep-craving-carbs-coronavirus-wellness\/index.html)\n\n“At this point I would be fairly confident to put it in the same category as, say, fever,” said Munger. “Obviously a variety of things can cause a fever. But if you lose your sense of smell quickly you want to self-isolate and contact your physician to talk about what actionable steps you might want to take.”\n\nVoigt agrees: “My recommendation is you should self-isolate and quarantine for about 14 days and don’t spread that virus to other people,” he said. “If you have to go out, wear a mask so that you’re not sharing the virus with others.”\n\nIf you do experience a loss of smell, take care because there are dangers such as not being able to smell a gas leak, or perceive rotten milk or rancid food.\n\nAnd be aware that the loss of smell can occur further into the illness, along with other, more common symptoms.\n\n### Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter\n[Sign up here to get **The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta**](https:\/\/form.cnn.com\/results_are_in?source=article) every Tuesday from the CNN Health team.\n\n“It can precede the viral symptoms,” Voigt said. “There were people with very mild illness symptoms, but they did lose their sense of smell. And there are other patients where the loss of smell kicked in after they were having fever and chills.\n\n“So the timeline is not predictive,” he stressed. “And it’s also not a predictive sign of the severity of the disease – it does not predict that you’re going to get the bad pulmonary complications at this point. We don’t have any data saying that.”\n\nAd Feedback\n\nAd Feedback\n\nAd Feedback\n\nSubscribe\n\nSign in\n\nMy Account\n\n- [Settings](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/account\/settings)\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/newsletters)\n- [Topics you follow](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/follow?iid=fw_var-nav)\n- [Sign out](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/04\/03\/health\/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness)\n\nYour CNN account Sign in to your CNN account\n***\n[Listen](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio)   [Watch](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/watch)\n***\n- [US](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us)\n  - [Crime & Justice](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/crime-and-justice)\n  - [Immigration](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/immigration)\n  - [Education](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/education)\n  - [Transportation](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/transportation)\n  - [Race & Identity](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/race-and-identity)\n- [World](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world)\n  - [Africa](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/africa)\n  - [Americas](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/americas)\n  - [Asia](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/asia)\n  - [Australia](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/australia)\n  - [China](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/china)\n  - [Europe](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/europe)\n  - [India](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/india)\n  - [Middle East](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/middle-east)\n  - [United Kingdom](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/united-kingdom)\n- [Politics](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/politics)\n  - [Trump](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/politics\/president-donald-trump-47)\n  - [Facts First](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/politics\/fact-check)\n  - [CNN Polls](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/polling)\n  - [2026 Elections](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/election\/2026)\n  - [Redistricting Tracker](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/politics\/state-redistricting-maps-vis\/index.html)\n  - [Epstein Files](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/politics\/epstein-files)\n- [Business](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business)\n  - [Tech](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/tech)\n  - [Media](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/media)\n  - [Calculators](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/financial-calculators)\n  - [Videos](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/videos)\n- [Markets](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/markets)\n  - [Pre-markets](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/markets\/premarkets)\n  - [After-Hours](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/markets\/after-hours)\n  - [Fear & Greed](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/markets\/fear-and-greed)\n  - [Investing](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/investing)\n  - [Markets Now](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/markets-now)\n  - [Nightcap](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/markets\/nightcap)\n- [Health](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health)\n  - [Life, But Better](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/interactive\/life-but-better\/)\n  - [Fitness](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/fitness)\n  - [Food](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/food)\n  - [Sleep](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/sleep)\n  - [Mindfulness](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/mindfulness)\n  - [Relationships](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health\/life-but-better\/relationships)\n- [CNN Underscored](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored)\n  - [Electronics](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/electronics)\n  - [Fashion](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/fashion)\n  - [Beauty](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/beauty)\n  - [Health & Fitness](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/health-fitness)\n  - [Home](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/home)\n  - [Reviews](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/reviews)\n  - [Deals](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/deals)\n  - [Gifts](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/gifts)\n  - [Travel](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/travel)\n  - [Outdoors](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/outdoors)\n  - [Pets](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/pets)\n- [Entertainment](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/entertainment)\n  - [Movies](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/entertainment\/movies)\n  - [Television](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/entertainment\/tv-shows)\n  - [Celebrity](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/entertainment\/celebrities)\n- [Tech](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/tech)\n  - [Innovate](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/business\/tech\/innovate)\n- [Style](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style)\n  - [Arts](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style\/arts)\n  - [Design](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style\/design)\n  - [Fashion](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style\/fashion)\n  - [Architecture](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style\/architecture)\n  - [Luxury](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style\/luxury)\n  - [Beauty](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style\/beauty)\n  - [Video](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/style\/videos)\n- [Travel](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/travel)\n  - [Destinations](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/travel\/destinations)\n  - [Food & Drink](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/travel\/food-and-drink)\n  - [Stay](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/travel\/stay)\n  - [News](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/travel\/news)\n  - [Videos](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/travel\/videos)\n- [Sports](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/sports)\n  - [Pro Football](https:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/nfl)\n  - [College Football](https:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/college-football)\n  - [Basketball](https:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/nba)\n  - [Baseball](https:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/mlb)\n  - [Soccer](https:\/\/bleacherreport.com\/world-football)\n  - [Olympics](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/sport\/milan-cortina-winter-olympics-2026)\n- [Science](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/science)\n  - [Space](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/science\/space)\n  - [Life](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/science\/life)\n  - [Unearthed](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/science\/unearthed)\n- [Climate](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/climate)\n  - [Solutions](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/climate\/solutions)\n  - [Weather](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/weather)\n- [Weather](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/weather)\n  - [Video](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/weather\/video)\n  - [Climate](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/climate)\n- [Ukraine-Russia War](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/europe\/ukraine)\n- [Israel-Hamas War](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/middleeast\/israel)\n- [Watch](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/watch)\n  - [Featured](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/watch)\n  - [Shows & Films](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/watch#shows-films)\n  - [Network TV](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/videos\/live)\n  - [Clips](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/videos)\n  - [CNN Headlines](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/videos\/fast\/cnn-headlines)\n  - [CNN Shorts](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/shorts\/cnn-shorts)\n  - [Shows A-Z](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/tv\/all-shows)\n  - [CNN 10](https:\/\/www.cnn10.com\/)\n  - [CNN TV Schedules](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/tv\/schedule\/cnn)\n- [Listen](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio)\n  - [CNN 5 Things](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/5-things)\n  - [Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/chasing-life)\n  - [The Assignment with Audie Cornish](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/the-assignment)\n  - [One Thing](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/one-thing)\n  - [Tug of War](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/tug-of-war)\n  - [CNN Political Briefing](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/political-briefing)\n  - [The Axe Files](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/axe-files)\n  - [All There Is with Anderson Cooper](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio\/podcasts\/all-there-is-with-anderson-cooper)\n  - [All CNN Audio podcasts](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio)\n- [Games](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/games)\n  - [Daily Crossword](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/games\/play\/cnn-crossword)\n  - [Jumble Crossword](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/games\/play\/jumble-crossword-daily)\n  - [Photo Shuffle](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/games\/play\/photo-shuffle)\n  - [Sudoblock](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/games\/play\/sudoblock)\n  - [Sudoku](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/games\/play\/daily-sudoku)\n  - [5 Things Quiz](https:\/\/cnn.it\/5thingsquiz)\n- [Amazon Prime Day](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/cnn-underscored\/deals\/prime-day)\n- [About CNN](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/about)\n  - [Subscribe](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/subscription?source=sub_web_footersubnav-link)\n  - [Photos](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/photos)\n  - [Investigations](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/us\/cnn-investigates)\n  - [CNN Profiles](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/profiles)\n  - [CNN Leadership](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/profiles\/cnn-leadership)\n  - [CNN Newsletters](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/newsletters)\n  - [Work for CNN](https:\/\/careers.wbd.com\/cnnjobs)\n***\n[Health](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/health)\n\n[Watch](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/watch)   [Listen](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/audio)\n***\nSubscribe\n\nSign in\n\nMy Account\n\n- [Settings](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/account\/settings)\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/newsletters)\n- [Topics you follow](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/follow?iid=fw_var-nav)\n- [Sign out](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/04\/03\/health\/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness)\n\nYour CNN account Sign in to your CNN account\n\nFollow CNN\n***\nDownload the CNN app\n\nDownload the CNN app\n***\n[Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/terms)   [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/privacy)  [Manage Cookies](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/04\/03\/health\/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness)  [Ad Choices](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/ad-choices)   [Accessibility & CC](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/accessibility)   [About](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/about)   [Subscribe](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/subscription?source=sub_web_footerlink-link)   [Newsletters](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/newsletters)   [Transcripts](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/transcripts)   [Help Center](https:\/\/help.cnn.com\/)\n\n© 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.   \n CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.\n\n## Download the CNN app\nScan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play.\n\n![Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from Google Play.](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/google-play-cnn-app-qr-code.png)\n\n## Download the CNN app\nScan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.\n\n![Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/app-store-cnn-app-qr-code.png)\n\n![CNN Logo](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/media\/sites\/cnn\/cnn.svg)\n\n## Legal Terms and Privacy\nBy clicking Agree, you have read and agree to the Terms of Use and agree to the collection and use of your information by cookies and similar technologies, as set forth in our Privacy Policy.\n\nBy clicking \"Agree\", you have read and agree to the [Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/terms) and agree to the collection and use of your information by cookies and similar technologies, as set forth in our [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/privacy).\n\n[Agree](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/04\/03\/health\/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness)","attrs_readable_markdown":"CNN —\n\nIn mild to moderate cases of coronavirus, a loss of smell, and therefore taste, is emerging as one of the most unusual early signs of the disease called Covid-19.\n\n“What’s called anosmia, which basically means loss of smell, seems to be a symptom that a number of patients developed,” CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta told CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota on [New Day.](https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/03\/23\/health\/coronavirus-symptoms-smell-intl\/index.html)\n\n“It may be linked to loss of taste, linked to loss of appetite, we’re not sure – but it’s clearly something to look out for,” Gupta said. “Sometimes these early symptoms aren’t the classic ones.”\n\nAd Feedback\n\nAd Feedback\n\nWhile fever, cough and shortness of breath are the key classic signs of contracting Covid-19, a recent analysis of milder cases in South Korea found the major presenting symptom in 30% of patients was a loss of smell. In Germany, more than two in three confirmed cases had anosmia.\n\nIn response, the [American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery](https:\/\/www.entnet.org\/content\/aao-hns-anosmia-hyposmia-and-dysgeusia-symptoms-coronavirus-disease) and [ENT UK,](https:\/\/www.entuk.org\/sites\/default\/files\/files\/Loss%20of%20sense%20of%20smell%20as%20marker%20of%20COVID.pdf) a professional organization representing ear, nose and throat surgeons in the United Kingdom, are calling for the loss of smell or taste to be added to the screening tools for possible Covid-19 infection.\n\nBut those with worrisome signs – which may or may not be coronavirus – are being told to stay home and monitor their symptoms so as not to stress already overburdened hospitals, clinics and heath care workers struggling to save lives.\n\nSo is there anything you can do at home to test to see if you’re suffering a loss of smell?\n\nThe answer is yes, by using the “jellybean test.”\n\n“You take a jellybean in one hand, and with the other hand you hold your nose tightly so you’re not getting any air flow,” said Steven Munger, director of the Center for Smell and Taste at the University of Florida.\n\n“You put the jellybean in your mouth and chew it. Let’s say it’s a fruit flavor jellybean: if you get the savory plus the sweetness of the jellybean you’ll know you have functional taste,” Munger said.\n\n“Then, while still chewing, suddenly release your nose. If you have a sense of smell you’ll suddenly get all the odors and you’ll say ‘Oh! that’s a lemon jellybean,’ or ‘Oh! that’s cherry.’ It’s really a very dramatic, quick, ‘Wow’ type of response,” he explained.\n\n“So if you can go from sweet and sour to the full flavor and know what the flavor is,” Munger said, “then your sense of smell is probably in pretty good shape.”\n\nThe scientific name for this process is retro nasal olfaction, where the odors flow from the back of your mouth up through your nasal pharynx and into your nasal cavity.\n\nBut what if you don’t have a jellybean? You can use other foods too, said ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Erich Voigt, director of the division of sleep otolaryngology at NYU Langone Health.\n\n“The pure smell sense would be if you can smell a particular substance that’s not stimulating other nerves,” Voigt said. “So some examples of that would be if you can smell ground coffee or coffee brewing, or if you can smell someone peeling an orange. That’s the smell sense.”\n\nBut you have to be careful, because it’s easy to think you’re using your sense of smell when you’re not, Voigt said.\n\n“So for example, ammonia or cleaning solutions, those stimulate the trigeminal nerve, which is an irritant nerve,” he said. “And so people will think, ‘Oh, I can smell Clorox, I can smell ammonia, which means I can smell.’ But no, that’s not correct. They’re not actually smelling, they’re using the trigeminal nerve.”\n\nStill aren’t sure if you’re getting it right? Check the internet for medically-based scratch and sniff tests.\n\nOf course, not everyone who flunks a smell test is going to have coronavirus. Any respiratory virus, such as cold or flu, will temporarily impact smell and taste, sometimes even permanently.\n\n“The amount of swelling that can occur in the nose from the viral effect can prevent the smell particles from getting all the way up to the top of the nose where the olfactory nerve is,” Voigt said. “When that swelling goes down, the sense of smell can return.”\n\nBut there are also neurotoxic viruses, some of which are in the common cold category, Voigt said.\n\n“If they’re neurotoxic, that means that they harm the olfactory nerve and it becomes essentially nonfunctional,” he added. “Many of those cases can recover smell with time, but sometimes it’s a permanent loss.”\n\nA partial or complete chronic loss of smell is incredibly common, Munger said, affecting millions of Americans long before the novel coronavirus burst upon the scene.\n\n“About 13% of the population has a significant smell or taste impairment,” he said.\n\nBesides cold and flu, other causes of smell loss include nasal polyps, tumors, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injury or head trauma, including whiplash.\n\n“If someone has been in an auto accident or had a whiplash injury or head injury, that could also impact the little nerves as they go from the brain down to the nose,” Voigt said. “So a whiplash injury could also cause a permanent loss of sense of smell.”\n\nA loss of taste is commonly associated with the loss of smell, because we rely on smell to identify flavors. But there can also be medical reasons: Some medications can affect taste; chemotherapy and radiation therapy can certainly disrupt taste; and then there is physical damage, such as nerves severed during dental surgeries.\n\nIf you believe you’ve lost your sense of smell (and do not have a medical reason to explain the loss), experts say to take the symptom seriously.\n\n“At this point I would be fairly confident to put it in the same category as, say, fever,” said Munger. “Obviously a variety of things can cause a fever. But if you lose your sense of smell quickly you want to self-isolate and contact your physician to talk about what actionable steps you might want to take.”\n\nVoigt agrees: “My recommendation is you should self-isolate and quarantine for about 14 days and don’t spread that virus to other people,” he said. “If you have to go out, wear a mask so that you’re not sharing the virus with others.”\n\nIf you do experience a loss of smell, take care because there are dangers such as not being able to smell a gas leak, or perceive rotten milk or rancid food.\n\nAnd be aware that the loss of smell can occur further into the illness, along with other, more common symptoms.\n\n“It can precede the viral symptoms,” Voigt said. “There were people with very mild illness symptoms, but they did lose their sense of smell. And there are other patients where the loss of smell kicked in after they were having fever and chills.\n\n“So the timeline is not predictive,” he stressed. “And it’s also not a predictive sign of the severity of the disease – it does not predict that you’re going to get the bad pulmonary complications at this point. We don’t have any data saying that.”","meta_canonical":null}

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:

Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:

Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

📄

INDEXABLE

✅

CRAWLED

15 days ago

🤖

ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

Filter	Status	Condition	Details
HTTP status	PASS	`download_http_code = 200`	HTTP 200
Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	0.5 months ago
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
Spam/ban	PASS	`fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0`	ml_spam_score=0
Canonical	PASS	`meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed`	Not set

Page Details

Property	Value
URL	https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/03/health/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness
Last Crawled	2026-03-30 18:20:46 (15 days ago)
First Indexed	2025-05-01 13:15:50 (11 months ago)
HTTP Status Code	200
Meta Title	Loss of smell from coronavirus: How to test your sense \| CNN
Meta Description	New research is showing a connection between a loss of smell and taste and the coronavirus. Ease your mind with this simple sniff test you can do at home.
Meta Canonical	null
Boilerpipe Text	CNN — In mild to moderate cases of coronavirus, a loss of smell, and therefore taste, is emerging as one of the most unusual early signs of the disease called Covid-19. “What’s called anosmia, which basically means loss of smell, seems to be a symptom that a number of patients developed,” CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta told CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota on New Day. “It may be linked to loss of taste, linked to loss of appetite, we’re not sure – but it’s clearly something to look out for,” Gupta said. “Sometimes these early symptoms aren’t the classic ones.” Ad Feedback Ad Feedback While fever, cough and shortness of breath are the key classic signs of contracting Covid-19, a recent analysis of milder cases in South Korea found the major presenting symptom in 30% of patients was a loss of smell. In Germany, more than two in three confirmed cases had anosmia. In response, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and ENT UK, a professional organization representing ear, nose and throat surgeons in the United Kingdom, are calling for the loss of smell or taste to be added to the screening tools for possible Covid-19 infection. But those with worrisome signs – which may or may not be coronavirus – are being told to stay home and monitor their symptoms so as not to stress already overburdened hospitals, clinics and heath care workers struggling to save lives. So is there anything you can do at home to test to see if you’re suffering a loss of smell? The answer is yes, by using the “jellybean test.” “You take a jellybean in one hand, and with the other hand you hold your nose tightly so you’re not getting any air flow,” said Steven Munger, director of the Center for Smell and Taste at the University of Florida. “You put the jellybean in your mouth and chew it. Let’s say it’s a fruit flavor jellybean: if you get the savory plus the sweetness of the jellybean you’ll know you have functional taste,” Munger said. “Then, while still chewing, suddenly release your nose. If you have a sense of smell you’ll suddenly get all the odors and you’ll say ‘Oh! that’s a lemon jellybean,’ or ‘Oh! that’s cherry.’ It’s really a very dramatic, quick, ‘Wow’ type of response,” he explained. “So if you can go from sweet and sour to the full flavor and know what the flavor is,” Munger said, “then your sense of smell is probably in pretty good shape.” The scientific name for this process is retro nasal olfaction, where the odors flow from the back of your mouth up through your nasal pharynx and into your nasal cavity. But what if you don’t have a jellybean? You can use other foods too, said ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Erich Voigt, director of the division of sleep otolaryngology at NYU Langone Health. “The pure smell sense would be if you can smell a particular substance that’s not stimulating other nerves,” Voigt said. “So some examples of that would be if you can smell ground coffee or coffee brewing, or if you can smell someone peeling an orange. That’s the smell sense.” But you have to be careful, because it’s easy to think you’re using your sense of smell when you’re not, Voigt said. “So for example, ammonia or cleaning solutions, those stimulate the trigeminal nerve, which is an irritant nerve,” he said. “And so people will think, ‘Oh, I can smell Clorox, I can smell ammonia, which means I can smell.’ But no, that’s not correct. They’re not actually smelling, they’re using the trigeminal nerve.” Still aren’t sure if you’re getting it right? Check the internet for medically-based scratch and sniff tests. Of course, not everyone who flunks a smell test is going to have coronavirus. Any respiratory virus, such as cold or flu, will temporarily impact smell and taste, sometimes even permanently. “The amount of swelling that can occur in the nose from the viral effect can prevent the smell particles from getting all the way up to the top of the nose where the olfactory nerve is,” Voigt said. “When that swelling goes down, the sense of smell can return.” But there are also neurotoxic viruses, some of which are in the common cold category, Voigt said. “If they’re neurotoxic, that means that they harm the olfactory nerve and it becomes essentially nonfunctional,” he added. “Many of those cases can recover smell with time, but sometimes it’s a permanent loss.” A partial or complete chronic loss of smell is incredibly common, Munger said, affecting millions of Americans long before the novel coronavirus burst upon the scene. “About 13% of the population has a significant smell or taste impairment,” he said. Besides cold and flu, other causes of smell loss include nasal polyps, tumors, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injury or head trauma, including whiplash. “If someone has been in an auto accident or had a whiplash injury or head injury, that could also impact the little nerves as they go from the brain down to the nose,” Voigt said. “So a whiplash injury could also cause a permanent loss of sense of smell.” A loss of taste is commonly associated with the loss of smell, because we rely on smell to identify flavors. But there can also be medical reasons: Some medications can affect taste; chemotherapy and radiation therapy can certainly disrupt taste; and then there is physical damage, such as nerves severed during dental surgeries. If you believe you’ve lost your sense of smell (and do not have a medical reason to explain the loss), experts say to take the symptom seriously. “At this point I would be fairly confident to put it in the same category as, say, fever,” said Munger. “Obviously a variety of things can cause a fever. But if you lose your sense of smell quickly you want to self-isolate and contact your physician to talk about what actionable steps you might want to take.” Voigt agrees: “My recommendation is you should self-isolate and quarantine for about 14 days and don’t spread that virus to other people,” he said. “If you have to go out, wear a mask so that you’re not sharing the virus with others.” If you do experience a loss of smell, take care because there are dangers such as not being able to smell a gas leak, or perceive rotten milk or rancid food. And be aware that the loss of smell can occur further into the illness, along with other, more common symptoms. “It can precede the viral symptoms,” Voigt said. “There were people with very mild illness symptoms, but they did lose their sense of smell. And there are other patients where the loss of smell kicked in after they were having fever and chills. “So the timeline is not predictive,” he stressed. “And it’s also not a predictive sign of the severity of the disease – it does not predict that you’re going to get the bad pulmonary complications at this point. We don’t have any data saying that.”
Markdown	Thank You\! Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated. Close Ad Feedback [Health](https://www.cnn.com/health) [Life, But Better](https://www.cnn.com/interactive/life-but-better/) [Fitness](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/fitness) [Food](http://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/food) [Sleep](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/sleep) [Mindfulness](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/mindfulness) [Relationships](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/relationships) [More]() [Life, But Better](https://www.cnn.com/interactive/life-but-better/) [Fitness](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/fitness) [Food](http://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/food) [Sleep](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/sleep) [Mindfulness](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/mindfulness) [Relationships](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/relationships) [Watch](https://www.cnn.com/subscription/all-access) [Listen](https://www.cnn.com/audio) Subscribe Sign in My Account - [Settings](https://www.cnn.com/account/settings) - [Newsletters](https://www.cnn.com/newsletters) - [Topics you follow](https://www.cnn.com/follow?iid=fw_var-nav) - [Sign out](https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/03/health/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness) Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account * Sign in My Account - [Settings](https://www.cnn.com/account/settings) - [Newsletters](https://www.cnn.com/newsletters) - [Topics you follow](https://www.cnn.com/follow?iid=fw_var-nav) - [Sign out](https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/03/health/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness) Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account * [Listen](https://www.cnn.com/audio) [Watch](https://www.cnn.com/subscription/all-access) * Edition [US](https://us.cnn.com/?hpt=header_edition-picker) [International](https://edition.cnn.com/?hpt=header_edition-picker) [Arabic](https://arabic.cnn.com/?hpt=header_edition-picker) [Español](https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/?hpt=header_edition-picker) Edition - [US](https://us.cnn.com/?hpt=header_edition-picker) - [International](https://edition.cnn.com/?hpt=header_edition-picker) - [Arabic](https://arabic.cnn.com/?hpt=header_edition-picker) - [Español](https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/?hpt=header_edition-picker) * [Life, But Better](https://www.cnn.com/interactive/life-but-better/) [Fitness](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/fitness) [Food](http://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/food) [Sleep](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/sleep) [Mindfulness](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/mindfulness) [Relationships](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/relationships) * Follow CNN Download the CNN App * - [US](https://www.cnn.com/us) - [Crime & Justice](https://www.cnn.com/us/crime-and-justice) - [Immigration](https://www.cnn.com/us/immigration) - [Education](https://www.cnn.com/us/education) - [Transportation](https://www.cnn.com/us/transportation) - [Race & Identity](https://www.cnn.com/us/race-and-identity) - [World](https://www.cnn.com/world) - [Africa](https://www.cnn.com/world/africa) - [Americas](https://www.cnn.com/world/americas) - [Asia](https://www.cnn.com/world/asia) - [Australia](https://www.cnn.com/world/australia) - [China](https://www.cnn.com/world/china) - [Europe](https://www.cnn.com/world/europe) - [India](https://www.cnn.com/world/india) - [Middle East](https://www.cnn.com/world/middle-east) - [United Kingdom](https://www.cnn.com/world/united-kingdom) - [Politics](https://www.cnn.com/politics) - [Trump](https://www.cnn.com/politics/president-donald-trump-47) - [Facts First](https://www.cnn.com/politics/fact-check) - [CNN Polls](https://www.cnn.com/polling) - [2026 Elections](https://www.cnn.com/election/2026) - [Redistricting Tracker](https://www.cnn.com/politics/state-redistricting-maps-vis/index.html) - [Epstein Files](https://www.cnn.com/politics/epstein-files) - [Business](https://www.cnn.com/business) - [Tech](https://www.cnn.com/business/tech) - [Media](https://www.cnn.com/business/media) - [Calculators](https://www.cnn.com/business/financial-calculators) - [Videos](https://www.cnn.com/business/videos) - [Markets](https://www.cnn.com/markets) - [Pre-markets](https://www.cnn.com/markets/premarkets) - [After-Hours](https://www.cnn.com/markets/after-hours) - [Fear & Greed](https://www.cnn.com/markets/fear-and-greed) - [Investing](https://www.cnn.com/business/investing) - [Markets Now](https://www.cnn.com/business/markets-now) - [Nightcap](https://www.cnn.com/business/markets/nightcap) - [Health](https://www.cnn.com/health) - [Life, But Better](https://www.cnn.com/interactive/life-but-better/) - [Fitness](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/fitness) - [Food](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/food) - [Sleep](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/sleep) - [Mindfulness](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/mindfulness) - [Relationships](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/relationships) - [CNN Underscored](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored) - [Electronics](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/electronics) - [Fashion](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/fashion) - [Beauty](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/beauty) - [Health & Fitness](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/health-fitness) - [Home](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home) - [Reviews](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews) - [Deals](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/deals) - [Gifts](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/gifts) - [Travel](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/travel) - [Outdoors](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/outdoors) - [Pets](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/pets) - [Entertainment](https://www.cnn.com/entertainment) - [Movies](https://www.cnn.com/entertainment/movies) - [Television](https://www.cnn.com/entertainment/tv-shows) - [Celebrity](https://www.cnn.com/entertainment/celebrities) - [Tech](https://www.cnn.com/business/tech) - [Innovate](https://www.cnn.com/business/tech/innovate) - [Style](https://www.cnn.com/style) - [Arts](https://www.cnn.com/style/arts) - [Design](https://www.cnn.com/style/design) - [Fashion](https://www.cnn.com/style/fashion) - [Architecture](https://www.cnn.com/style/architecture) - [Luxury](https://www.cnn.com/style/luxury) - [Beauty](https://www.cnn.com/style/beauty) - [Video](https://www.cnn.com/style/videos) - [Travel](https://www.cnn.com/travel) - [Destinations](https://www.cnn.com/travel/destinations) - [Food & Drink](https://www.cnn.com/travel/food-and-drink) - [Stay](https://www.cnn.com/travel/stay) - [Videos](https://www.cnn.com/travel/videos) - [Sports](https://www.cnn.com/sports) - [Pro Football](https://bleacherreport.com/nfl) - [College Football](https://bleacherreport.com/college-football) - [Basketball](https://bleacherreport.com/nba) - [Baseball](https://bleacherreport.com/mlb) - [Soccer](https://bleacherreport.com/world-football) - [Olympics](https://www.cnn.com/sport/milan-cortina-winter-olympics-2026) - [Science](https://www.cnn.com/science) - [Space](https://www.cnn.com/science/space) - [Life](https://www.cnn.com/science/life) - [Unearthed](https://www.cnn.com/science/unearthed) - [Climate](https://www.cnn.com/climate) - [Solutions](https://www.cnn.com/climate/solutions) - [Weather](https://www.cnn.com/weather) - [Weather](https://www.cnn.com/weather) - [Video](https://www.cnn.com/weather/video) - [Climate](https://www.cnn.com/climate) - [Ukraine-Russia War](https://www.cnn.com/world/europe/ukraine) - [Israel-Hamas War](https://www.cnn.com/world/middleeast/israel) - [Watch](https://www.cnn.com/watch) - [Featured](https://www.cnn.com/watch) - [Shows & Films](https://www.cnn.com/watch#shows-films) - [Network TV](https://www.cnn.com/videos/live) - [Clips](https://www.cnn.com/videos) - [CNN Headlines](https://www.cnn.com/videos/fast/cnn-headlines) - [CNN Shorts](https://www.cnn.com/shorts/cnn-shorts) - [Shows A-Z](https://www.cnn.com/tv/all-shows) - [CNN 10](https://www.cnn10.com/) - [CNN TV Schedules](https://www.cnn.com/tv/schedule/cnn) - [Listen](https://www.cnn.com/audio) - [CNN 5 Things](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/5-things) - [Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/chasing-life) - [The Assignment with Audie Cornish](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/the-assignment) - [One Thing](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/one-thing) - [Tug of War](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/tug-of-war) - [CNN Political Briefing](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/political-briefing) - [The Axe Files](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/axe-files) - [All There Is with Anderson Cooper](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/all-there-is-with-anderson-cooper) - [All CNN Audio podcasts](https://www.cnn.com/audio) - [Games](https://www.cnn.com/games) - [Daily Crossword](https://www.cnn.com/games/play/cnn-crossword) - [Jumble Crossword](https://www.cnn.com/games/play/jumble-crossword-daily) - [Photo Shuffle](https://www.cnn.com/games/play/photo-shuffle) - [Sudoblock](https://www.cnn.com/games/play/sudoblock) - [Sudoku](https://www.cnn.com/games/play/daily-sudoku) - [5 Things Quiz](https://cnn.it/5thingsquiz) - [Amazon Prime Day](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/deals/prime-day) - [About CNN](https://www.cnn.com/about) - [Subscribe](https://www.cnn.com/subscription?source=sub_web_footersubnav-link) - [Photos](https://www.cnn.com/world/photos) - [Investigations](https://www.cnn.com/us/cnn-investigates) - [CNN Profiles](https://www.cnn.com/profiles) - [CNN Leadership](https://www.cnn.com/profiles/cnn-leadership) - [CNN Newsletters](https://www.cnn.com/newsletters) - [Work for CNN](https://careers.wbd.com/cnnjobs) * Download the CNN App # Loss of smell from coronavirus: How to test your sense By Sandee LaMotte, CNN 6 min read Updated 10:06 AM EDT, Fri April 3, 2020 Link Copied\! Unable to load video Please try again later. Error occurred while fetching labs Subtitles - Off Video Ad Feedback This one thing could stop the spread of Covid-19 01:09 • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) Coronavirus 16 videos ![brian china economic crisis wang 0715](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback 'I'm losing my mind': Chinese depositor loses life savings in bank 03:58 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: A man is asked to cough into his arm as part of testing for COVID-19, by a member of the Los Angeles Fire Department wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) in Skid Row, amidst the coronavirus pandemic on April 21, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 43 people tested positive for COVID-19 at one nearby Skid Row homeless shelter. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback Doctor: Covid-19 BA.5 variant is highly transmissible 02:31 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![Fauci](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback Dr. Fauci explains why new BA.5 subvariant is concerning 04:58 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![coronavirus social distancing](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback This one thing could stop the spread of Covid-19 01:09 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![gupta screengrab vpx](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback Will approaching winter mean new Covid-19 surge? 04:20 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![china corona nyc](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback Artist wears 27 hazmat suits to protest China's policies 03:08 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![hong kong tourism](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback See how Hong Kong is trying to revitalize itself after Covid-19 02:23 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![Late night Joe Biden](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback See late night reactions to President Biden claiming pandemic over 01:45 Now playing • Source: CNN Business ![Patient using video game treatment long haul covid gupta pkg vpx](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback Dr. Gupta: This treatment for 'brain fog' from long-Covid just might surprise you 04:05 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![joe rogan aaron rogers covid vaccination orig mg\_00000000.png](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback Aaron Rodgers tells Joe Rogan why he didn't get vaccinated for Covid 02:16 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![BARTLETT, ILLINOIS - MAY 01: Seven-year-old Hamza Haqqani, a 2nd grade student at Al-Huda Academy, uses a computer to participate in an E-learning class with his teacher and classmates while at his home on May 01, 2020 in Bartlett, Illinois. Al-Huda Academy, an Islam based private school that teaches pre-school through the 6th grade students, has had to adopt an E-learning program to finish the school year after all schools in the state were forced to cancel classes in an attempt to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback How Covid upended children's lives 10:16 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) Video Ad Feedback 'Wasn't too surprising': Doctor reacts to Biden's positive Covid test 02:50 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![video thumbnail wuhan market 1](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/220727082531-video-thumbnail-wuhan-market-1.jpg?c=16x9&q=w_250,c_fill) Video Ad Feedback New studies suggest Covid-19 likely originated from Wuhan wet market 01:39 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![Dr. Anthony Fauci](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/220723084617-dr-anthony-fauci.jpg?c=16x9&q=w_250,c_fill) Video Ad Feedback Dr. Fauci gives update on Biden's Covid-19 infection 05:50 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![doctor jonathan reiner](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/220721112856-doctor-jonathan-reiner.jpg?c=16x9&q=w_250,c_fill) Video Ad Feedback 'This was entirely predictable': Doctor on Biden testing positive for Covid-19 01:22 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![Jill Biden](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/220721110825-jill-biden.jpg?c=16x9&q=w_250,c_fill) Video Ad Feedback Jill Biden speaks out after President Biden contracts Covid-19 00:45 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![brian china economic crisis wang 0715](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback 'I'm losing my mind': Chinese depositor loses life savings in bank 03:58 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: A man is asked to cough into his arm as part of testing for COVID-19, by a member of the Los Angeles Fire Department wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) in Skid Row, amidst the coronavirus pandemic on April 21, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 43 people tested positive for COVID-19 at one nearby Skid Row homeless shelter. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback Doctor: Covid-19 BA.5 variant is highly transmissible 02:31 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![Fauci](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback Dr. Fauci explains why new BA.5 subvariant is concerning 04:58 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![coronavirus social distancing](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback This one thing could stop the spread of Covid-19 01:09 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![gupta screengrab vpx](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback Will approaching winter mean new Covid-19 surge? 04:20 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) ![china corona nyc](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Video Ad Feedback Artist wears 27 hazmat suits to protest China's policies 03:08 Now playing • Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/) See more videos CNN — In mild to moderate cases of coronavirus, a loss of smell, and therefore taste, is emerging as one of the most unusual early signs of the disease called Covid-19. [![coronavirus animation](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Related article Coronavirus symptoms: A list and when to seek help](https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/31/health/coronavirus-symptoms-list-what-to-do-wellness/index.html) “What’s called anosmia, which basically means loss of smell, seems to be a symptom that a number of patients developed,” CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta told CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota on [New Day.](https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/23/health/coronavirus-symptoms-smell-intl/index.html) “It may be linked to loss of taste, linked to loss of appetite, we’re not sure – but it’s clearly something to look out for,” Gupta said. “Sometimes these early symptoms aren’t the classic ones.” Ad Feedback Ad Feedback While fever, cough and shortness of breath are the key classic signs of contracting Covid-19, a recent analysis of milder cases in South Korea found the major presenting symptom in 30% of patients was a loss of smell. In Germany, more than two in three confirmed cases had anosmia. In response, the [American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery](https://www.entnet.org/content/aao-hns-anosmia-hyposmia-and-dysgeusia-symptoms-coronavirus-disease) and [ENT UK,](https://www.entuk.org/sites/default/files/files/Loss%20of%20sense%20of%20smell%20as%20marker%20of%20COVID.pdf) a professional organization representing ear, nose and throat surgeons in the United Kingdom, are calling for the loss of smell or taste to be added to the screening tools for possible Covid-19 infection. But those with worrisome signs – which may or may not be coronavirus – are being told to stay home and monitor their symptoms so as not to stress already overburdened hospitals, clinics and heath care workers struggling to save lives. [![coronavirus animation](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Related article What is coronavirus and Covid-19? An explainer](https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/31/health/what-is-coronavirus-covid-19-wellness/index.html) So is there anything you can do at home to test to see if you’re suffering a loss of smell? The answer is yes, by using the “jellybean test.” ## ‘Jellybean test’ “You take a jellybean in one hand, and with the other hand you hold your nose tightly so you’re not getting any air flow,” said Steven Munger, director of the Center for Smell and Taste at the University of Florida. [![kitten asleep STOCK](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Shutterstock Related article Cats may get coronavirus, but experts say it's nothing to worry about](https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/02/health/cats-dogs-ferrets-coronavirus-wellness/index.html) “You put the jellybean in your mouth and chew it. Let’s say it’s a fruit flavor jellybean: if you get the savory plus the sweetness of the jellybean you’ll know you have functional taste,” Munger said. “Then, while still chewing, suddenly release your nose. If you have a sense of smell you’ll suddenly get all the odors and you’ll say ‘Oh! that’s a lemon jellybean,’ or ‘Oh! that’s cherry.’ It’s really a very dramatic, quick, ‘Wow’ type of response,” he explained. “So if you can go from sweet and sour to the full flavor and know what the flavor is,” Munger said, “then your sense of smell is probably in pretty good shape.” ### More of CNN's coronavirus coverage [Live updates: US](https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/us-coronavirus-update-04-23-20/index.html) [Live updates: Worldwide](https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-04-23-20-intl/index.html) [Map: Covid-19’s spread across the US](https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/health/coronavirus-us-maps-and-cases/) [Photos: Life returns in Wuhan – slowly](https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/04/world/wuhan-coronavirus-cnnphotos/index.html) [Video: Three ways to ensure your food is safe](https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2020/03/26/coronavirus-covid-19-food-grocery-delivery-safety-tips-orig.cnn/video/playlists/covid-19-coronavirus-how-to-service/) [Guide: How to help and get help](https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/health/coronavirus-how-to-help/#topic-menu) [Q\&A: Is it true young people with coronavirus are also having blood clots and strokes?](https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/health/coronavirus-questions-answers/) The scientific name for this process is retro nasal olfaction, where the odors flow from the back of your mouth up through your nasal pharynx and into your nasal cavity. But what if you don’t have a jellybean? You can use other foods too, said ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Erich Voigt, director of the division of sleep otolaryngology at NYU Langone Health. “The pure smell sense would be if you can smell a particular substance that’s not stimulating other nerves,” Voigt said. “So some examples of that would be if you can smell ground coffee or coffee brewing, or if you can smell someone peeling an orange. That’s the smell sense.” But you have to be careful, because it’s easy to think you’re using your sense of smell when you’re not, Voigt said. [![SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 20: A general view of Bondi Beach is seen on March 20, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. The Australian government has banned non-essential gatherings of 100 or more people indoors, along with outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday announced Australia would be closing its borders to all visitors for six months. The travel ban will be placed on all people who are not Australian residents or their direct relations coming to the country from 9pm on Friday night. There are now 756 confirmed cases of COVID-19 In Australia while the death toll now stands at seven. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 20: A general view of Bondi Beach is seen on March 20, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. The Australian government has banned non-essential gatherings of 100 or more people indoors, along with outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday announced Australia would be closing its borders to all visitors for six months. The travel ban will be placed on all people who are not Australian residents or their direct relations coming to the country from 9pm on Friday night. There are now 756 confirmed cases of COVID-19 In Australia while the death toll now stands at seven. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images) Jenny Evans/Getty Images Related article Humans are terrible at social distancing. Here's what to do about it](https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/02/health/coronavirus-human-contact-wellness-intl/index.html) “So for example, ammonia or cleaning solutions, those stimulate the trigeminal nerve, which is an irritant nerve,” he said. “And so people will think, ‘Oh, I can smell Clorox, I can smell ammonia, which means I can smell.’ But no, that’s not correct. They’re not actually smelling, they’re using the trigeminal nerve.” Still aren’t sure if you’re getting it right? Check the internet for medically-based scratch and sniff tests. ## Smell loss is common Of course, not everyone who flunks a smell test is going to have coronavirus. Any respiratory virus, such as cold or flu, will temporarily impact smell and taste, sometimes even permanently. “The amount of swelling that can occur in the nose from the viral effect can prevent the smell particles from getting all the way up to the top of the nose where the olfactory nerve is,” Voigt said. “When that swelling goes down, the sense of smell can return.” But there are also neurotoxic viruses, some of which are in the common cold category, Voigt said. “If they’re neurotoxic, that means that they harm the olfactory nerve and it becomes essentially nonfunctional,” he added. “Many of those cases can recover smell with time, but sometimes it’s a permanent loss.” [![02 hand washing STOCK](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Shuttertstock Related article Why soap, sanitizer and warm water work against Covid-19 and other viruses](https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/24/health/soap-warm-water-hand-sanitizer-coronavirus-wellness-scn/index.html) A partial or complete chronic loss of smell is incredibly common, Munger said, affecting millions of Americans long before the novel coronavirus burst upon the scene. “About 13% of the population has a significant smell or taste impairment,” he said. Besides cold and flu, other causes of smell loss include nasal polyps, tumors, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injury or head trauma, including whiplash. “If someone has been in an auto accident or had a whiplash injury or head injury, that could also impact the little nerves as they go from the brain down to the nose,” Voigt said. “So a whiplash injury could also cause a permanent loss of sense of smell.” A loss of taste is commonly associated with the loss of smell, because we rely on smell to identify flavors. But there can also be medical reasons: Some medications can affect taste; chemotherapy and radiation therapy can certainly disrupt taste; and then there is physical damage, such as nerves severed during dental surgeries. ## A coronavirus connection If you believe you’ve lost your sense of smell (and do not have a medical reason to explain the loss), experts say to take the symptom seriously. [![04 bad sleep](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn-fallback-image.jpg) Shutterstock Related article Craving carbs and sleeping badly while social distancing? Here's how to cope](https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/23/health/sleep-craving-carbs-coronavirus-wellness/index.html) “At this point I would be fairly confident to put it in the same category as, say, fever,” said Munger. “Obviously a variety of things can cause a fever. But if you lose your sense of smell quickly you want to self-isolate and contact your physician to talk about what actionable steps you might want to take.” Voigt agrees: “My recommendation is you should self-isolate and quarantine for about 14 days and don’t spread that virus to other people,” he said. “If you have to go out, wear a mask so that you’re not sharing the virus with others.” If you do experience a loss of smell, take care because there are dangers such as not being able to smell a gas leak, or perceive rotten milk or rancid food. And be aware that the loss of smell can occur further into the illness, along with other, more common symptoms. ### Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter [Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta](https://form.cnn.com/results_are_in?source=article) every Tuesday from the CNN Health team. “It can precede the viral symptoms,” Voigt said. “There were people with very mild illness symptoms, but they did lose their sense of smell. And there are other patients where the loss of smell kicked in after they were having fever and chills. “So the timeline is not predictive,” he stressed. “And it’s also not a predictive sign of the severity of the disease – it does not predict that you’re going to get the bad pulmonary complications at this point. We don’t have any data saying that.” Ad Feedback Ad Feedback Ad Feedback Subscribe Sign in My Account - [Settings](https://www.cnn.com/account/settings) - [Newsletters](https://www.cnn.com/newsletters) - [Topics you follow](https://www.cnn.com/follow?iid=fw_var-nav) - [Sign out](https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/03/health/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness) Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account * [Listen](https://www.cnn.com/audio) [Watch](https://www.cnn.com/watch) * - [US](https://www.cnn.com/us) - [Crime & Justice](https://www.cnn.com/us/crime-and-justice) - [Immigration](https://www.cnn.com/us/immigration) - [Education](https://www.cnn.com/us/education) - [Transportation](https://www.cnn.com/us/transportation) - [Race & Identity](https://www.cnn.com/us/race-and-identity) - [World](https://www.cnn.com/world) - [Africa](https://www.cnn.com/world/africa) - [Americas](https://www.cnn.com/world/americas) - [Asia](https://www.cnn.com/world/asia) - [Australia](https://www.cnn.com/world/australia) - [China](https://www.cnn.com/world/china) - [Europe](https://www.cnn.com/world/europe) - [India](https://www.cnn.com/world/india) - [Middle East](https://www.cnn.com/world/middle-east) - [United Kingdom](https://www.cnn.com/world/united-kingdom) - [Politics](https://www.cnn.com/politics) - [Trump](https://www.cnn.com/politics/president-donald-trump-47) - [Facts First](https://www.cnn.com/politics/fact-check) - [CNN Polls](https://www.cnn.com/polling) - [2026 Elections](https://www.cnn.com/election/2026) - [Redistricting Tracker](https://www.cnn.com/politics/state-redistricting-maps-vis/index.html) - [Epstein Files](https://www.cnn.com/politics/epstein-files) - [Business](https://www.cnn.com/business) - [Tech](https://www.cnn.com/business/tech) - [Media](https://www.cnn.com/business/media) - [Calculators](https://www.cnn.com/business/financial-calculators) - [Videos](https://www.cnn.com/business/videos) - [Markets](https://www.cnn.com/markets) - [Pre-markets](https://www.cnn.com/markets/premarkets) - [After-Hours](https://www.cnn.com/markets/after-hours) - [Fear & Greed](https://www.cnn.com/markets/fear-and-greed) - [Investing](https://www.cnn.com/business/investing) - [Markets Now](https://www.cnn.com/business/markets-now) - [Nightcap](https://www.cnn.com/business/markets/nightcap) - [Health](https://www.cnn.com/health) - [Life, But Better](https://www.cnn.com/interactive/life-but-better/) - [Fitness](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/fitness) - [Food](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/food) - [Sleep](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/sleep) - [Mindfulness](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/mindfulness) - [Relationships](https://www.cnn.com/health/life-but-better/relationships) - [CNN Underscored](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored) - [Electronics](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/electronics) - [Fashion](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/fashion) - [Beauty](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/beauty) - [Health & Fitness](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/health-fitness) - [Home](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/home) - [Reviews](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews) - [Deals](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/deals) - [Gifts](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/gifts) - [Travel](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/travel) - [Outdoors](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/outdoors) - [Pets](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/pets) - [Entertainment](https://www.cnn.com/entertainment) - [Movies](https://www.cnn.com/entertainment/movies) - [Television](https://www.cnn.com/entertainment/tv-shows) - [Celebrity](https://www.cnn.com/entertainment/celebrities) - [Tech](https://www.cnn.com/business/tech) - [Innovate](https://www.cnn.com/business/tech/innovate) - [Style](https://www.cnn.com/style) - [Arts](https://www.cnn.com/style/arts) - [Design](https://www.cnn.com/style/design) - [Fashion](https://www.cnn.com/style/fashion) - [Architecture](https://www.cnn.com/style/architecture) - [Luxury](https://www.cnn.com/style/luxury) - [Beauty](https://www.cnn.com/style/beauty) - [Video](https://www.cnn.com/style/videos) - [Travel](https://www.cnn.com/travel) - [Destinations](https://www.cnn.com/travel/destinations) - [Food & Drink](https://www.cnn.com/travel/food-and-drink) - [Stay](https://www.cnn.com/travel/stay) - [News](https://www.cnn.com/travel/news) - [Videos](https://www.cnn.com/travel/videos) - [Sports](https://www.cnn.com/sports) - [Pro Football](https://bleacherreport.com/nfl) - [College Football](https://bleacherreport.com/college-football) - [Basketball](https://bleacherreport.com/nba) - [Baseball](https://bleacherreport.com/mlb) - [Soccer](https://bleacherreport.com/world-football) - [Olympics](https://www.cnn.com/sport/milan-cortina-winter-olympics-2026) - [Science](https://www.cnn.com/science) - [Space](https://www.cnn.com/science/space) - [Life](https://www.cnn.com/science/life) - [Unearthed](https://www.cnn.com/science/unearthed) - [Climate](https://www.cnn.com/climate) - [Solutions](https://www.cnn.com/climate/solutions) - [Weather](https://www.cnn.com/weather) - [Weather](https://www.cnn.com/weather) - [Video](https://www.cnn.com/weather/video) - [Climate](https://www.cnn.com/climate) - [Ukraine-Russia War](https://www.cnn.com/world/europe/ukraine) - [Israel-Hamas War](https://www.cnn.com/world/middleeast/israel) - [Watch](https://www.cnn.com/watch) - [Featured](https://www.cnn.com/watch) - [Shows & Films](https://www.cnn.com/watch#shows-films) - [Network TV](https://www.cnn.com/videos/live) - [Clips](https://www.cnn.com/videos) - [CNN Headlines](https://www.cnn.com/videos/fast/cnn-headlines) - [CNN Shorts](https://www.cnn.com/shorts/cnn-shorts) - [Shows A-Z](https://www.cnn.com/tv/all-shows) - [CNN 10](https://www.cnn10.com/) - [CNN TV Schedules](https://www.cnn.com/tv/schedule/cnn) - [Listen](https://www.cnn.com/audio) - [CNN 5 Things](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/5-things) - [Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/chasing-life) - [The Assignment with Audie Cornish](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/the-assignment) - [One Thing](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/one-thing) - [Tug of War](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/tug-of-war) - [CNN Political Briefing](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/political-briefing) - [The Axe Files](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/axe-files) - [All There Is with Anderson Cooper](https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/all-there-is-with-anderson-cooper) - [All CNN Audio podcasts](https://www.cnn.com/audio) - [Games](https://www.cnn.com/games) - [Daily Crossword](https://www.cnn.com/games/play/cnn-crossword) - [Jumble Crossword](https://www.cnn.com/games/play/jumble-crossword-daily) - [Photo Shuffle](https://www.cnn.com/games/play/photo-shuffle) - [Sudoblock](https://www.cnn.com/games/play/sudoblock) - [Sudoku](https://www.cnn.com/games/play/daily-sudoku) - [5 Things Quiz](https://cnn.it/5thingsquiz) - [Amazon Prime Day](https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/deals/prime-day) - [About CNN](https://www.cnn.com/about) - [Subscribe](https://www.cnn.com/subscription?source=sub_web_footersubnav-link) - [Photos](https://www.cnn.com/world/photos) - [Investigations](https://www.cnn.com/us/cnn-investigates) - [CNN Profiles](https://www.cnn.com/profiles) - [CNN Leadership](https://www.cnn.com/profiles/cnn-leadership) - [CNN Newsletters](https://www.cnn.com/newsletters) - [Work for CNN](https://careers.wbd.com/cnnjobs) * [Health](https://www.cnn.com/health) [Watch](https://www.cnn.com/watch) [Listen](https://www.cnn.com/audio) * Subscribe Sign in My Account - [Settings](https://www.cnn.com/account/settings) - [Newsletters](https://www.cnn.com/newsletters) - [Topics you follow](https://www.cnn.com/follow?iid=fw_var-nav) - [Sign out](https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/03/health/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness) Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account Follow CNN * Download the CNN app Download the CNN app *** [Terms of Use](https://www.cnn.com/terms) [Privacy Policy](https://www.cnn.com/privacy) [Manage Cookies](https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/03/health/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness) [Ad Choices](https://www.cnn.com/ad-choices) [Accessibility & CC](https://www.cnn.com/accessibility) [About](https://www.cnn.com/about) [Subscribe](https://www.cnn.com/subscription?source=sub_web_footerlink-link) [Newsletters](https://www.cnn.com/newsletters) [Transcripts](https://www.cnn.com/transcripts) [Help Center](https://help.cnn.com/) © 2026 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. ## Download the CNN app Scan the QR code to download the CNN app on Google Play. ![Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from Google Play.](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/google-play-cnn-app-qr-code.png) ## Download the CNN app Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store. ![Scan the QR code to download the CNN app from the Apple Store.](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/app-store-cnn-app-qr-code.png) ![CNN Logo](https://www.cnn.com/media/sites/cnn/cnn.svg) ## Legal Terms and Privacy By clicking Agree, you have read and agree to the Terms of Use and agree to the collection and use of your information by cookies and similar technologies, as set forth in our Privacy Policy. By clicking "Agree", you have read and agree to the [Terms of Use](https://www.cnn.com/terms) and agree to the collection and use of your information by cookies and similar technologies, as set forth in our [Privacy Policy](https://www.cnn.com/privacy). [Agree](https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/03/health/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness)
Readable Markdown	CNN — In mild to moderate cases of coronavirus, a loss of smell, and therefore taste, is emerging as one of the most unusual early signs of the disease called Covid-19. “What’s called anosmia, which basically means loss of smell, seems to be a symptom that a number of patients developed,” CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta told CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota on [New Day.](https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/23/health/coronavirus-symptoms-smell-intl/index.html) “It may be linked to loss of taste, linked to loss of appetite, we’re not sure – but it’s clearly something to look out for,” Gupta said. “Sometimes these early symptoms aren’t the classic ones.” Ad Feedback Ad Feedback While fever, cough and shortness of breath are the key classic signs of contracting Covid-19, a recent analysis of milder cases in South Korea found the major presenting symptom in 30% of patients was a loss of smell. In Germany, more than two in three confirmed cases had anosmia. In response, the [American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery](https://www.entnet.org/content/aao-hns-anosmia-hyposmia-and-dysgeusia-symptoms-coronavirus-disease) and [ENT UK,](https://www.entuk.org/sites/default/files/files/Loss%20of%20sense%20of%20smell%20as%20marker%20of%20COVID.pdf) a professional organization representing ear, nose and throat surgeons in the United Kingdom, are calling for the loss of smell or taste to be added to the screening tools for possible Covid-19 infection. But those with worrisome signs – which may or may not be coronavirus – are being told to stay home and monitor their symptoms so as not to stress already overburdened hospitals, clinics and heath care workers struggling to save lives. So is there anything you can do at home to test to see if you’re suffering a loss of smell? The answer is yes, by using the “jellybean test.” “You take a jellybean in one hand, and with the other hand you hold your nose tightly so you’re not getting any air flow,” said Steven Munger, director of the Center for Smell and Taste at the University of Florida. “You put the jellybean in your mouth and chew it. Let’s say it’s a fruit flavor jellybean: if you get the savory plus the sweetness of the jellybean you’ll know you have functional taste,” Munger said. “Then, while still chewing, suddenly release your nose. If you have a sense of smell you’ll suddenly get all the odors and you’ll say ‘Oh! that’s a lemon jellybean,’ or ‘Oh! that’s cherry.’ It’s really a very dramatic, quick, ‘Wow’ type of response,” he explained. “So if you can go from sweet and sour to the full flavor and know what the flavor is,” Munger said, “then your sense of smell is probably in pretty good shape.” The scientific name for this process is retro nasal olfaction, where the odors flow from the back of your mouth up through your nasal pharynx and into your nasal cavity. But what if you don’t have a jellybean? You can use other foods too, said ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Erich Voigt, director of the division of sleep otolaryngology at NYU Langone Health. “The pure smell sense would be if you can smell a particular substance that’s not stimulating other nerves,” Voigt said. “So some examples of that would be if you can smell ground coffee or coffee brewing, or if you can smell someone peeling an orange. That’s the smell sense.” But you have to be careful, because it’s easy to think you’re using your sense of smell when you’re not, Voigt said. “So for example, ammonia or cleaning solutions, those stimulate the trigeminal nerve, which is an irritant nerve,” he said. “And so people will think, ‘Oh, I can smell Clorox, I can smell ammonia, which means I can smell.’ But no, that’s not correct. They’re not actually smelling, they’re using the trigeminal nerve.” Still aren’t sure if you’re getting it right? Check the internet for medically-based scratch and sniff tests. Of course, not everyone who flunks a smell test is going to have coronavirus. Any respiratory virus, such as cold or flu, will temporarily impact smell and taste, sometimes even permanently. “The amount of swelling that can occur in the nose from the viral effect can prevent the smell particles from getting all the way up to the top of the nose where the olfactory nerve is,” Voigt said. “When that swelling goes down, the sense of smell can return.” But there are also neurotoxic viruses, some of which are in the common cold category, Voigt said. “If they’re neurotoxic, that means that they harm the olfactory nerve and it becomes essentially nonfunctional,” he added. “Many of those cases can recover smell with time, but sometimes it’s a permanent loss.” A partial or complete chronic loss of smell is incredibly common, Munger said, affecting millions of Americans long before the novel coronavirus burst upon the scene. “About 13% of the population has a significant smell or taste impairment,” he said. Besides cold and flu, other causes of smell loss include nasal polyps, tumors, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injury or head trauma, including whiplash. “If someone has been in an auto accident or had a whiplash injury or head injury, that could also impact the little nerves as they go from the brain down to the nose,” Voigt said. “So a whiplash injury could also cause a permanent loss of sense of smell.” A loss of taste is commonly associated with the loss of smell, because we rely on smell to identify flavors. But there can also be medical reasons: Some medications can affect taste; chemotherapy and radiation therapy can certainly disrupt taste; and then there is physical damage, such as nerves severed during dental surgeries. If you believe you’ve lost your sense of smell (and do not have a medical reason to explain the loss), experts say to take the symptom seriously. “At this point I would be fairly confident to put it in the same category as, say, fever,” said Munger. “Obviously a variety of things can cause a fever. But if you lose your sense of smell quickly you want to self-isolate and contact your physician to talk about what actionable steps you might want to take.” Voigt agrees: “My recommendation is you should self-isolate and quarantine for about 14 days and don’t spread that virus to other people,” he said. “If you have to go out, wear a mask so that you’re not sharing the virus with others.” If you do experience a loss of smell, take care because there are dangers such as not being able to smell a gas leak, or perceive rotten milk or rancid food. And be aware that the loss of smell can occur further into the illness, along with other, more common symptoms. “It can precede the viral symptoms,” Voigt said. “There were people with very mild illness symptoms, but they did lose their sense of smell. And there are other patients where the loss of smell kicked in after they were having fever and chills. “So the timeline is not predictive,” he stressed. “And it’s also not a predictive sign of the severity of the disease – it does not predict that you’re going to get the bad pulmonary complications at this point. We don’t have any data saying that.”
Shard	51 (laksa)
Root Hash	2312100192101524051
Unparsed URL	com,cnn!www,/2020/04/03/health/smell-taste-test-coronavirus-wellness s443