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1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 61 (from laksa072)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa061.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.today.com/health/coronavirus-loss-smell-taste-will-it-come-back-t188574\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.today.com/health/coronavirus-loss-smell-taste-will-it-come-back-t188574\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/coronavirus-loss-smell-taste-will-it-come-back-t188574","crawl_time":1775659694,"first_indexed_time":1596827957,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,today!www,\/health\/coronavirus-loss-smell-taste-will-it-come-back-t188574 s443","src_root_hash":"14344358153203253461","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Coronavirus loss of smell, taste: Will it come back?","meta_descriptions":["Coronavirus symptoms include loss of taste and smell, a condition called anosmia. Many COVID-19 survivors say they've had changes to taste and smell for months."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"At this stage in the\ncoronavirus\noutbreak, it's been well-documented that\nCOVID-19 patients often experience a loss of taste and smell\n, usually as one of the first symptoms. For most people, these senses return to normal within several weeks. But others have noticed substantial changes to previously familiar odors and flavors, if their taste and smell come back at all.\nWhile losing taste and smell happens often with viral infections and even other coronaviruses, the way that COVID-19 affects a patient's nose and mouth seems different, according to Dr. Sandeep Robert Datta, a Harvard neuroscientist who co-authored a recent study on anosmia, aka loss of smell,\npublished in Science Advances\n.\n\"In many cases, the reason you lose your sense of smell when you get a cold is that your mucus composition changes, your nose gets super stuffy,\" he told TODAY. \"When your cold resolves, that inflammation goes away and you can smell again. In COVID, it doesn't appear that that's the main thing going on.\"\n02:16\nWhat do we know about COVID-19 and loss of taste and smell?\nResearch published in early July\nlooked at 55 coronavirus patients who experienced impairment of taste or smell. Of these, most said their senses were either fully recovered or improved four weeks later, but about 11% reported that the symptoms had either not improved or gotten worse during that time.\nAccording to Datta, \"most people\" who experience loss of taste or smell due to COVID-19 regain these senses \"pretty quickly.\" He estimated within two to six weeks. That said, there's \"a very real subset of patients\" whose \"anosmia lasts much, much longer,\" he added. \"There are people who were infected at the beginning of the pandemic, and they still haven’t regained their sense of smell.\"\nOf these patients, Datta said, many report changes to their sense of smell when it does return, a condition called parosmia. For example, your favorite shampoo might smell completely different, and \"it can be extremely disconcerting,\" he said.\n05:55\nDatta's research, released in late July, found that one potential reason this could happen is that the virus may infect what he called \"support cells\" in the nose. These are not the cells that actually detect odors; rather, they're the cells that help those sensory neurons function properly.\n\"We think that in the people who have longer lasting anosmia, maybe the long-term lack of support from these (support) cells actually causes the sensory neurons to die,\" he explained. \"The sensory neurons have to be regenerated ... and one possibility is that in people with COVID, that might actually take extra long.\"\nAs a result, the parosmia may arise when those sensory neurons are \"reborn\" and have to reintegrate into the body's olfactory system all over again, Datta said. He added that for taste, it seems like both support cells and actual taste cells \"might be infectible\" by the coronavirus, and the underlying mechanism behind taste alterations has \"similarities\" to smell.\nRight now, it's not known why some patients' senses return normally and others' don't.\nWill sense of smell and taste ever return normally for these patients?\nFor most people, loss of smell and taste is temporary, but there are people where it's unclear at this stage whether their senses will go back to normal. According to Datta, parosmia could resolve over time as the regrown sensory neurons go through a process of \"refinement.\"\n\"From what limited clinical data there is ... I think there is hope for these patients,\" he said. \"Our hope is that our research might one day lead to actual treatment ... Smell is an understudied sense, although it's profoundly important.\"\nDr. Alfred Iloreta, an otolaryngologist at Mount Sinai's Center for Post-COVID Care in New York City, told TODAY that research from previous viruses that cause anosmia shows \"there's a small proportion (of patients) that the smell never returns.\"\nHe added that he tells his patients, to set their expectations, \"there's a possibility that (taste and smell) won't ever come back.\"\nWhat's it like to experience changes to your taste and smell?\nIloreta, who's seen a range of patients with anosmia and parosmia, as well as taste conditions, said there's \"a wide spectrum of presentations.\" Some patients notice decreases in their perception of flavors and odors, whereas others notices changes in these senses.\nA common symptom, he noted, is a \"constant fire or burning, smoke smell,\" and others include a \"foul, bitter smell\" and \"a feces-like smell.\" These patients often report significant changes to taste, too, as these two senses are closely linked. The combination can greatly diminish appetite, he added.\nMarcus Tomoff, a 28-year-old from Tampa, Florida, who tested positive for COVID-19 in early June, told TODAY he noticed one morning, before any other\nsymptoms\n, that he couldn't smell or taste bacon. Shortly after, he realized that all other tastes had been replaced by \"a metal taste,\" and his lack of smell made him think he was congested.\nNow, he said he only has \"mild taste and smell.\" He can get whiffs of peppermint and lemons, but mostly he smells \"burning\" and tastes metal. Overall, the experience has \"mentally drained\" him, he said, adding, \"It’s kind of been like life’s little pleasures taken away from me ... You’re pretty much just eating and drinking to survive.\"\n06:15\nEmi Boscamp, 28, a food editor at TODAY in New York City\nwho was sick with COVID-19 in mid-March, said that one of her favorite herbs, cilantro, now smells \"disgustingly soapy.\" She added that garlic and onions smell \"putrid but taste fine.\" While her senses slowly returned over about six weeks, she dealt with anxiety as a result. \"I’ll have to have a new job. I can’t be speaking about food if I can’t even taste it,\" she thought, at the time.\nJamie Glass, 47, of Monclair, New Jersey, told TODAY that she was sick in mid-March but still occasionally notices a \"burnt plastic smell\" and a \"plastic-y taste\" in her mouth. She's taken to adding extra seasoning to her cooking to compensate.\n\"It’s a little numbing, to be honest,\" she said. \"You don’t realize how much ... being able to smell something can make you feel hungry.\"\nBoth Datta and Iloreta noted that existing research links loss of smell to depression and anxiety.\nWhat can you do if you're experiencing long-term loss of taste and smell?\nDatta said that smell training, \"where you take a set of familiar odors and you repeatedly expose yourself to those odors,\" may improve a patient's \"ability to associate an odor with a perception.\"\nIloreta has started a trial where patients take a high-purity\nfish oil\nsupplement to see if it can improve sense of smell. Fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes growth of neurons, he said. If you're interested in trying this strategy yourself, talk to your doctor first. Other possible strategies that haven't been studied but are safe, he said, include topical nasal steroids, like Flonase.\nDatta also recommended seeking help from support groups for people who have lost their sense of smell or taste like\nAbscent\nor the U.K.-based\nFifth Sense\n, and participating in studies, like the\nGlobal Consortium for Chemosensory Research\n.\nIloreta stressed the importance of seeing a doctor if you're experiencing changes to taste or smell, not only because it can be an early sign of COVID-19, but it can also be an indicator of other conditions like Parkinson's or sinus disease.","attrs_markdown":"[Steals & Deals: Up to 85% off Mother’s Day Gifts](https:\/\/deals.today.com\/?cid=web_td_sd&utm_source_uc=web&utm_medium_uc=stealsdeals&utm_campaign_uc=TODAYmarquee&utm_content_uc=homepage&utm_program_uc=TODAY&utm_source=web&utm_medium=SD&utm_campaign=TODAYmarquee)\n\nIE 11 is not supported. 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COVID-19 survivors experience prolonged loss of senses. Will they come back?\nWhile most COVID-19 patients with loss of taste and smell see it return within six weeks, others struggle with changes to these senses months later.\n\nUpdated Aug. 7, 2020, 8:47 PM UTC\n\n\/ Source: TODAY\n\n[![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-100x100,f_auto,q_auto:best\/newscms\/2025_11\/2095932\/maura-hohman-headshot-te-250312.jpg) Maura Hohman Assistant Managing Editor](https:\/\/www.today.com\/author\/maura-hohman-tdpn176049)\n\nSkip to table of contents\n\n![COVID-19 survivors report prolonged altered taste\/smell?](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/newscms\/2020_32\/1597649\/senses-covid-jc-200805.jpg)\n\nRecent research found that about 10% of patients who lost their taste and smell due to COVID-19 did not see any improvement in their senses within four weeks.TODAY illustration \/ Getty Images\n\n![Save hover state](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg)\n\nCreate your free account or log in to save this article\n\n[![](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjIiIGhlaWdodD0iMjEiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMiAyMSIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KICAgIDxyZWN0IHg9IjAuODQ0ODYxIiB5PSI0LjM2MjY5IiB3aWR0aD0iMTUuNzU0NyIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxNS43NTQ3IiB0cmFuc2Zvcm09InJvdGF0ZSgtNy44MDExOSAwLjg0NDg2MSA0LjM2MjY5KSIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjMkEyQTJBIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEuNSIvPgogICAgPHJlY3QgeD0iNC41ODY0MyIgeT0iMC43NSIgd2lkdGg9IjE1Ljc1NDciIGhlaWdodD0iMTUuNzU0NyIgZmlsbD0id2hpdGUiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzJBMkEyQSIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIxLjUiLz4KICAgIDxtYXNrIGlkPSJwYXRoLTMtaW5zaWRlLTFfMzIzXzQzODYiIGZpbGw9IndoaXRlIj4KICAgICAgICA8cGF0aCBkPSJNMTMuMjQ4MyA3Ljg0MjUzSDE2LjM4NVY5LjQxMTg3SDEzLjI0ODNWMTIuNTQ4NkgxMS42NzlWOS40MTE4N0g4LjU0MjI0VjcuODQyNTNIMTEuNjc5VjQuNzA1ODFIMTMuMjQ4M1Y3Ljg0MjUzWiIvPgogICAgPC9tYXNrPgogICAgPHBhdGggZD0iTTEzLjI0ODMgNy44NDI1M0gxNi4zODVWOS40MTE4N0gxMy4yNDgzVjEyLjU0ODZIMTEuNjc5VjkuNDExODdIOC41NDIyNFY3Ljg0MjUzSDExLjY3OVY0LjcwNTgxSDEzLjI0ODNWNy44NDI1M1oiIGZpbGw9IiMyQTJBMkEiLz4KICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0xMy4yNDgzIDcuODQyNTNIMTIuMDcxOFY5LjAxODk5SDEzLjI0ODNWNy44NDI1M1pNMTYuMzg1IDcuODQyNTNIMTcuNTYxNVY2LjY2NjA3SDE2LjM4NVY3Ljg0MjUzWk0xNi4zODUgOS40MTE4N1YxMC41ODgzSDE3LjU2MTVWOS40MTE4N0gxNi4zODVaTTEzLjI0ODMgOS40MTE4N1Y4LjIzNTQxSDEyLjA3MThWOS40MTE4N0gxMy4yNDgzWk0xMy4yNDgzIDEyLjU0ODZWMTMuNzI1SDE0LjQyNDhWMTIuNTQ4NkgxMy4yNDgzWk0xMS42NzkgMTIuNTQ4NkgxMC41MDI1VjEzLjcyNUgxMS42NzlWMTIuNTQ4NlpNMTEuNjc5IDkuNDExODdIMTIuODU1NFY4LjIzNTQxSDExLjY3OVY5LjQxMTg3Wk04LjU0MjI0IDkuNDExODdINy4zNjU3OFYxMC41ODgzSDguNTQyMjRWOS40MTE4N1pNOC41NDIyNCA3Ljg0MjUzVjYuNjY2MDdINy4zNjU3OFY3Ljg0MjUzSDguNTQyMjRaTTExLjY3OSA3Ljg0MjUzVjkuMDE4OTlIMTIuODU1NFY3Ljg0MjUzSDExLjY3OVpNMTEuNjc5IDQuNzA1ODFWMy41MjkzNUgxMC41MDI1VjQuNzA1ODFIMTEuNjc5Wk0xMy4yNDgzIDQuNzA1ODFIMTQuNDI0OFYzLjUyOTM1SDEzLjI0ODNWNC43MDU4MVpNMTMuMjQ4MyA3Ljg0MjUzVjkuMDE4OTlIMTYuMzg1VjcuODQyNTNWNi42NjYwN0gxMy4yNDgzVjcuODQyNTNaTTE2LjM4NSA3Ljg0MjUzSDE1LjIwODZWOS40MTE4N0gxNi4zODVIMTcuNTYxNVY3Ljg0MjUzSDE2LjM4NVpNMTYuMzg1IDkuNDExODdWOC4yMzU0MUgxMy4yNDgzVjkuNDExODdWMTAuNTg4M0gxNi4zODVWOS40MTE4N1pNMTMuMjQ4MyA5LjQxMTg3SDEyLjA3MThWMTIuNTQ4NkgxMy4yNDgzSDE0LjQyNDhWOS40MTE4N0gxMy4yNDgzWk0xMy4yNDgzIDEyLjU0ODZWMTEuMzcyMUgxMS42NzlWMTIuNTQ4NlYxMy43MjVIMTMuMjQ4M1YxMi41NDg2Wk0xMS42NzkgMTIuNTQ4NkgxMi44NTU0VjkuNDExODdIMTEuNjc5SDEwLjUwMjVWMTIuNTQ4NkgxMS42NzlaTTExLjY3OSA5LjQxMTg3VjguMjM1NDFIOC41NDIyNFY5LjQxMTg3VjEwLjU4ODNIMTEuNjc5VjkuNDExODdaTTguNTQyMjQgOS40MTE4N0g5LjcxODdWNy44NDI1M0g4LjU0MjI0SDcuMzY1NzhWOS40MTE4N0g4LjU0MjI0Wk04LjU0MjI0IDcuODQyNTNWOS4wMTg5OUgxMS42NzlWNy44NDI1M1Y2LjY2NjA3SDguNTQyMjRWNy44NDI1M1pNMTEuNjc5IDcuODQyNTNIMTIuODU1NFY0LjcwNTgxSDExLjY3OUgxMC41MDI1VjcuODQyNTNIMTEuNjc5Wk0xMS42NzkgNC43MDU4MVY1Ljg4MjI3SDEzLjI0ODNWNC43MDU4MVYzLjUyOTM1SDExLjY3OVY0LjcwNTgxWk0xMy4yNDgzIDQuNzA1ODFIMTIuMDcxOFY3Ljg0MjUzSDEzLjI0ODNIMTQuNDI0OFY0LjcwNTgxSDEzLjI0ODNaIiBmaWxsPSIjMkEyQTJBIiBtYXNrPSJ1cmwoI3BhdGgtMy1pbnNpZGUtMV8zMjNfNDM4NikiLz4KPC9zdmc+Cg==)Add TODAY to Google](https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=today.com)\n\nAt this stage in the [coronavirus](https:\/\/www.today.com\/coronavirus) outbreak, it's been well-documented that [COVID-19 patients often experience a loss of taste and smell](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/coronavirus-covid-19-symptoms-may-include-loss-smell-or-taste-t176597), usually as one of the first symptoms. For most people, these senses return to normal within several weeks. But others have noticed substantial changes to previously familiar odors and flavors, if their taste and smell come back at all.\n\nWhile losing taste and smell happens often with viral infections and even other coronaviruses, the way that COVID-19 affects a patient's nose and mouth seems different, according to Dr. Sandeep Robert Datta, a Harvard neuroscientist who co-authored a recent study on anosmia, aka loss of smell, [published in Science Advances](https:\/\/neuro.hms.harvard.edu\/faculty-staff\/sandeep-robert-datta).\n\n\"In many cases, the reason you lose your sense of smell when you get a cold is that your mucus composition changes, your nose gets super stuffy,\" he told TODAY. \"When your cold resolves, that inflammation goes away and you can smell again. In COVID, it doesn't appear that that's the main thing going on.\"\n\n0 seconds of 2 minutes, 16 secondsVolume 90%\n\nPress shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts\n\nKeyboard Shortcuts\n\nEnabledDisabled\n\nPlay\/PauseSPACE\n\nIncrease Volume↑\n\nDecrease Volume↓\n\nSeek Forward→\n\nSeek Backward←\n\nCaptions On\/Offc\n\nFullscreen\/Exit Fullscreenf\n\nMute\/Unmutem\n\nDecrease Caption Size\\-\n\nIncrease Caption Size\\+ or =\n\nSeek %0-9\n\nSettings\n\nOff\n\nCC\n\nEnglish\n\nFont Color\n\nWhite\n\nFont Opacity\n\n100%\n\nFont Size\n\n100%\n\nFont Family\n\nArial\n\nCharacter Edge\n\nNone\n\nBackground Color\n\nBlack\n\nBackground Opacity\n\n50%\n\nWindow Color\n\nBlack\n\nWindow Opacity\n\n0%\n\nReset\n\nWhite\n\nBlack\n\nRed\n\nGreen\n\nBlue\n\nYellow\n\nMagenta\n\nCyan\n\n100%\n\n75%\n\n50%\n\n25%\n\n200%\n\n175%\n\n150%\n\n125%\n\n100%\n\n75%\n\n50%\n\nArial\n\nCourier\n\nGeorgia\n\nImpact\n\nLucida Console\n\nTahoma\n\nTimes New Roman\n\nTrebuchet MS\n\nVerdana\n\nNone\n\nRaised\n\nDepressed\n\nUniform\n\nDrop Shadow\n\nWhite\n\nBlack\n\nRed\n\nGreen\n\nBlue\n\nYellow\n\nMagenta\n\nCyan\n\n100%\n\n75%\n\n50%\n\n25%\n\n0%\n\nWhite\n\nBlack\n\nRed\n\nGreen\n\nBlue\n\nYellow\n\nMagenta\n\nCyan\n\n100%\n\n75%\n\n50%\n\n25%\n\n0%\n\nAuto270p (330 kbps)\n\n1080p (5227 kbps)\n\n720p (3577 kbps)\n\n540p (1794 kbps)\n\n360p (984 kbps)\n\n270p (573 kbps)\n\n270p (330 kbps)\n\nLive\n\n00:00\n\n02:16\n\n02:16\n\n![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best\/MSNBC\/Components\/Video\/202006\/nn_ksn_covid_mystery_symptoms_200624_1920x1080.jpg)\n\n- [![](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjIiIGhlaWdodD0iMjEiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMiAyMSIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KICAgIDxyZWN0IHg9IjAuODQ0ODYxIiB5PSI0LjM2MjY5IiB3aWR0aD0iMTUuNzU0NyIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxNS43NTQ3IiB0cmFuc2Zvcm09InJvdGF0ZSgtNy44MDExOSAwLjg0NDg2MSA0LjM2MjY5KSIgc3Ryb2tlPSIjMkEyQTJBIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEuNSIvPgogICAgPHJlY3QgeD0iNC41ODY0MyIgeT0iMC43NSIgd2lkdGg9IjE1Ljc1NDciIGhlaWdodD0iMTUuNzU0NyIgZmlsbD0id2hpdGUiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzJBMkEyQSIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIxLjUiLz4KICAgIDxtYXNrIGlkPSJwYXRoLTMtaW5zaWRlLTFfMzIzXzQzODYiIGZpbGw9IndoaXRlIj4KICAgICAgICA8cGF0aCBkPSJNMTMuMjQ4MyA3Ljg0MjUzSDE2LjM4NVY5LjQxMTg3SDEzLjI0ODNWMTIuNTQ4NkgxMS42NzlWOS40MTE4N0g4LjU0MjI0VjcuODQyNTNIMTEuNjc5VjQuNzA1ODFIMTMuMjQ4M1Y3Ljg0MjUzWiIvPgogICAgPC9tYXNrPgogICAgPHBhdGggZD0iTTEzLjI0ODMgNy44NDI1M0gxNi4zODVWOS40MTE4N0gxMy4yNDgzVjEyLjU0ODZIMTEuNjc5VjkuNDExODdIOC41NDIyNFY3Ljg0MjUzSDExLjY3OVY0LjcwNTgxSDEzLjI0ODNWNy44NDI1M1oiIGZpbGw9IiMyQTJBMkEiLz4KICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0xMy4yNDgzIDcuODQyNTNIMTIuMDcxOFY5LjAxODk5SDEzLjI0ODNWNy44NDI1M1pNMTYuMzg1IDcuODQyNTNIMTcuNTYxNVY2LjY2NjA3SDE2LjM4NVY3Ljg0MjUzWk0xNi4zODUgOS40MTE4N1YxMC41ODgzSDE3LjU2MTVWOS40MTE4N0gxNi4zODVaTTEzLjI0ODMgOS40MTE4N1Y4LjIzNTQxSDEyLjA3MThWOS40MTE4N0gxMy4yNDgzWk0xMy4yNDgzIDEyLjU0ODZWMTMuNzI1SDE0LjQyNDhWMTIuNTQ4NkgxMy4yNDgzWk0xMS42NzkgMTIuNTQ4NkgxMC41MDI1VjEzLjcyNUgxMS42NzlWMTIuNTQ4NlpNMTEuNjc5IDkuNDExODdIMTIuODU1NFY4LjIzNTQxSDExLjY3OVY5LjQxMTg3Wk04LjU0MjI0IDkuNDExODdINy4zNjU3OFYxMC41ODgzSDguNTQyMjRWOS40MTE4N1pNOC41NDIyNCA3Ljg0MjUzVjYuNjY2MDdINy4zNjU3OFY3Ljg0MjUzSDguNTQyMjRaTTExLjY3OSA3Ljg0MjUzVjkuMDE4OTlIMTIuODU1NFY3Ljg0MjUzSDExLjY3OVpNMTEuNjc5IDQuNzA1ODFWMy41MjkzNUgxMC41MDI1VjQuNzA1ODFIMTEuNjc5Wk0xMy4yNDgzIDQuNzA1ODFIMTQuNDI0OFYzLjUyOTM1SDEzLjI0ODNWNC43MDU4MVpNMTMuMjQ4MyA3Ljg0MjUzVjkuMDE4OTlIMTYuMzg1VjcuODQyNTNWNi42NjYwN0gxMy4yNDgzVjcuODQyNTNaTTE2LjM4NSA3Ljg0MjUzSDE1LjIwODZWOS40MTE4N0gxNi4zODVIMTcuNTYxNVY3Ljg0MjUzSDE2LjM4NVpNMTYuMzg1IDkuNDExODdWOC4yMzU0MUgxMy4yNDgzVjkuNDExODdWMTAuNTg4M0gxNi4zODVWOS40MTE4N1pNMTMuMjQ4MyA5LjQxMTg3SDEyLjA3MThWMTIuNTQ4NkgxMy4yNDgzSDE0LjQyNDhWOS40MTE4N0gxMy4yNDgzWk0xMy4yNDgzIDEyLjU0ODZWMTEuMzcyMUgxMS42NzlWMTIuNTQ4NlYxMy43MjVIMTMuMjQ4M1YxMi41NDg2Wk0xMS42NzkgMTIuNTQ4NkgxMi44NTU0VjkuNDExODdIMTEuNjc5SDEwLjUwMjVWMTIuNTQ4NkgxMS42NzlaTTExLjY3OSA5LjQxMTg3VjguMjM1NDFIOC41NDIyNFY5LjQxMTg3VjEwLjU4ODNIMTEuNjc5VjkuNDExODdaTTguNTQyMjQgOS40MTE4N0g5LjcxODdWNy44NDI1M0g4LjU0MjI0SDcuMzY1NzhWOS40MTE4N0g4LjU0MjI0Wk04LjU0MjI0IDcuODQyNTNWOS4wMTg5OUgxMS42NzlWNy44NDI1M1Y2LjY2NjA3SDguNTQyMjRWNy44NDI1M1pNMTEuNjc5IDcuODQyNTNIMTIuODU1NFY0LjcwNTgxSDExLjY3OUgxMC41MDI1VjcuODQyNTNIMTEuNjc5Wk0xMS42NzkgNC43MDU4MVY1Ljg4MjI3SDEzLjI0ODNWNC43MDU4MVYzLjUyOTM1SDExLjY3OVY0LjcwNTgxWk0xMy4yNDgzIDQuNzA1ODFIMTIuMDcxOFY3Ljg0MjUzSDEzLjI0ODNIMTQuNDI0OFY0LjcwNTgxSDEzLjI0ODNaIiBmaWxsPSIjMkEyQTJBIiBtYXNrPSJ1cmwoI3BhdGgtMy1pbnNpZGUtMV8zMjNfNDM4NikiLz4KPC9zdmc+Cg==)Add TODAY to Google](https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=today.com)\n\n[Coronavirus patients with confusing, long-lasting symptoms](https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/nightly-news\/video\/coronavirus-patients-with-confusing-long-lasting-symptoms-85936197666)\n\n02:16\n## What do we know about COVID-19 and loss of taste and smell?\n[Research published in early July](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/coronavirus-smell-t185821) looked at 55 coronavirus patients who experienced impairment of taste or smell. Of these, most said their senses were either fully recovered or improved four weeks later, but about 11% reported that the symptoms had either not improved or gotten worse during that time.\n\nAccording to Datta, \"most people\" who experience loss of taste or smell due to COVID-19 regain these senses \"pretty quickly.\" He estimated within two to six weeks. That said, there's \"a very real subset of patients\" whose \"anosmia lasts much, much longer,\" he added. \"There are people who were infected at the beginning of the pandemic, and they still haven’t regained their sense of smell.\"\n\nOf these patients, Datta said, many report changes to their sense of smell when it does return, a condition called parosmia. For example, your favorite shampoo might smell completely different, and \"it can be extremely disconcerting,\" he said.\n\n0 seconds of 5 minutes, 54 secondsVolume 90%\n\nPress shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts\n\nKeyboard Shortcuts\n\nEnabledDisabled\n\nPlay\/PauseSPACE\n\nIncrease Volume↑\n\nDecrease Volume↓\n\nSeek Forward→\n\nSeek Backward←\n\nCaptions On\/Offc\n\nFullscreen\/Exit Fullscreenf\n\nMute\/Unmutem\n\nDecrease Caption Size\\-\n\nIncrease Caption Size\\+ or =\n\nSeek %0-9\n\nSettings\n\nOff\n\nCC\n\nEnglish\n\nFont Color\n\nWhite\n\nFont Opacity\n\n100%\n\nFont Size\n\n100%\n\nFont Family\n\nArial\n\nCharacter Edge\n\nNone\n\nBackground Color\n\nBlack\n\nBackground Opacity\n\n50%\n\nWindow Color\n\nBlack\n\nWindow Opacity\n\n0%\n\nReset\n\nWhite\n\nBlack\n\nRed\n\nGreen\n\nBlue\n\nYellow\n\nMagenta\n\nCyan\n\n100%\n\n75%\n\n50%\n\n25%\n\n200%\n\n175%\n\n150%\n\n125%\n\n100%\n\n75%\n\n50%\n\nArial\n\nCourier\n\nGeorgia\n\nImpact\n\nLucida Console\n\nTahoma\n\nTimes New Roman\n\nTrebuchet MS\n\nVerdana\n\nNone\n\nRaised\n\nDepressed\n\nUniform\n\nDrop Shadow\n\nWhite\n\nBlack\n\nRed\n\nGreen\n\nBlue\n\nYellow\n\nMagenta\n\nCyan\n\n100%\n\n75%\n\n50%\n\n25%\n\n0%\n\nWhite\n\nBlack\n\nRed\n\nGreen\n\nBlue\n\nYellow\n\nMagenta\n\nCyan\n\n100%\n\n75%\n\n50%\n\n25%\n\n0%\n\nAuto270p (325 kbps)\n\n1080p (4284 kbps)\n\n720p (3454 kbps)\n\n540p (1723 kbps)\n\n360p (938 kbps)\n\n270p (560 kbps)\n\n270p (325 kbps)\n\nLive\n\n00:00\n\n05:55\n\n05:54\n\n![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best\/MSNBC\/Components\/Video\/202008\/tdy_health_mor_coronavirus_200806_1920x1080.jpg)\n\n- [![](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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)Add TODAY to Google](https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=today.com)\n\n[Researchers study impact of coronavirus on children’s brains](https:\/\/www.today.com\/video\/researchers-study-impact-of-coronavirus-on-children-s-brains-89635397542)\n\n05:55\n\nDatta's research, released in late July, found that one potential reason this could happen is that the virus may infect what he called \"support cells\" in the nose. These are not the cells that actually detect odors; rather, they're the cells that help those sensory neurons function properly.\n\n\"We think that in the people who have longer lasting anosmia, maybe the long-term lack of support from these (support) cells actually causes the sensory neurons to die,\" he explained. \"The sensory neurons have to be regenerated ... and one possibility is that in people with COVID, that might actually take extra long.\"\n\nAs a result, the parosmia may arise when those sensory neurons are \"reborn\" and have to reintegrate into the body's olfactory system all over again, Datta said. He added that for taste, it seems like both support cells and actual taste cells \"might be infectible\" by the coronavirus, and the underlying mechanism behind taste alterations has \"similarities\" to smell.\n\nRight now, it's not known why some patients' senses return normally and others' don't.\n\n## Will sense of smell and taste ever return normally for these patients?\nFor most people, loss of smell and taste is temporary, but there are people where it's unclear at this stage whether their senses will go back to normal. According to Datta, parosmia could resolve over time as the regrown sensory neurons go through a process of \"refinement.\"\n\n\"From what limited clinical data there is ... I think there is hope for these patients,\" he said. \"Our hope is that our research might one day lead to actual treatment ... Smell is an understudied sense, although it's profoundly important.\"\n\nDr. Alfred Iloreta, an otolaryngologist at Mount Sinai's Center for Post-COVID Care in New York City, told TODAY that research from previous viruses that cause anosmia shows \"there's a small proportion (of patients) that the smell never returns.\"\n\nHe added that he tells his patients, to set their expectations, \"there's a possibility that (taste and smell) won't ever come back.\"\n\n## What's it like to experience changes to your taste and smell?\nIloreta, who's seen a range of patients with anosmia and parosmia, as well as taste conditions, said there's \"a wide spectrum of presentations.\" Some patients notice decreases in their perception of flavors and odors, whereas others notices changes in these senses.\n\nA common symptom, he noted, is a \"constant fire or burning, smoke smell,\" and others include a \"foul, bitter smell\" and \"a feces-like smell.\" These patients often report significant changes to taste, too, as these two senses are closely linked. The combination can greatly diminish appetite, he added.\n\nMarcus Tomoff, a 28-year-old from Tampa, Florida, who tested positive for COVID-19 in early June, told TODAY he noticed one morning, before any other [symptoms](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/these-women-s-coronavirus-symptoms-never-went-away-their-doctors-t188097), that he couldn't smell or taste bacon. Shortly after, he realized that all other tastes had been replaced by \"a metal taste,\" and his lack of smell made him think he was congested.\n\nNow, he said he only has \"mild taste and smell.\" He can get whiffs of peppermint and lemons, but mostly he smells \"burning\" and tastes metal. Overall, the experience has \"mentally drained\" him, he said, adding, \"It’s kind of been like life’s little pleasures taken away from me ... You’re pretty much just eating and drinking to survive.\"\n\n0 seconds of 6 minutes, 15 secondsVolume 90%\n\nPress shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts\n\nKeyboard Shortcuts\n\nEnabledDisabled\n\nPlay\/PauseSPACE\n\nIncrease Volume↑\n\nDecrease Volume↓\n\nSeek Forward→\n\nSeek Backward←\n\nCaptions On\/Offc\n\nFullscreen\/Exit Fullscreenf\n\nMute\/Unmutem\n\nDecrease Caption Size\\-\n\nIncrease Caption Size\\+ or =\n\nSeek %0-9\n\nSettings\n\nOff\n\nCC\n\nEnglish\n\nFont Color\n\nWhite\n\nFont Opacity\n\n100%\n\nFont Size\n\n100%\n\nFont Family\n\nArial\n\nCharacter Edge\n\nNone\n\nBackground Color\n\nBlack\n\nBackground Opacity\n\n50%\n\nWindow Color\n\nBlack\n\nWindow Opacity\n\n0%\n\nReset\n\nWhite\n\nBlack\n\nRed\n\nGreen\n\nBlue\n\nYellow\n\nMagenta\n\nCyan\n\n100%\n\n75%\n\n50%\n\n25%\n\n200%\n\n175%\n\n150%\n\n125%\n\n100%\n\n75%\n\n50%\n\nArial\n\nCourier\n\nGeorgia\n\nImpact\n\nLucida Console\n\nTahoma\n\nTimes New Roman\n\nTrebuchet 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[![](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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)Add TODAY to Google](https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=today.com)\n\n[Dr. Nahid Bhadelia: Coronavirus is set to be](https:\/\/www.today.com\/video\/dr-nahid-bhadelia-coronavirus-is-set-to-be-3rd-leading-cause-of-death-89573445790)\n\n06:15\n\n[Emi Boscamp, 28, a food editor at TODAY in New York City](https:\/\/www.today.com\/food\/what-it-s-lose-your-senses-smell-taste-t176907) who was sick with COVID-19 in mid-March, said that one of her favorite herbs, cilantro, now smells \"disgustingly soapy.\" She added that garlic and onions smell \"putrid but taste fine.\" While her senses slowly returned over about six weeks, she dealt with anxiety as a result. \"I’ll have to have a new job. I can’t be speaking about food if I can’t even taste it,\" she thought, at the time.\n\nJamie Glass, 47, of Monclair, New Jersey, told TODAY that she was sick in mid-March but still occasionally notices a \"burnt plastic smell\" and a \"plastic-y taste\" in her mouth. She's taken to adding extra seasoning to her cooking to compensate.\n\n\"It’s a little numbing, to be honest,\" she said. \"You don’t realize how much ... being able to smell something can make you feel hungry.\"\n\nBoth Datta and Iloreta noted that existing research links loss of smell to depression and anxiety.\n\n## What can you do if you're experiencing long-term loss of taste and smell?\nDatta said that smell training, \"where you take a set of familiar odors and you repeatedly expose yourself to those odors,\" may improve a patient's \"ability to associate an odor with a perception.\"\n\nIloreta has started a trial where patients take a high-purity [fish oil](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/fish-oil-omega-3-supplements-eating-fish-every-day-healthy-t139838) supplement to see if it can improve sense of smell. Fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes growth of neurons, he said. If you're interested in trying this strategy yourself, talk to your doctor first. Other possible strategies that haven't been studied but are safe, he said, include topical nasal steroids, like Flonase.\n\nDatta also recommended seeking help from support groups for people who have lost their sense of smell or taste like [Abscent](https:\/\/abscent.org\/) or the U.K.-based [Fifth Sense](https:\/\/www.fifthsense.org.uk\/), and participating in studies, like the [Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research](https:\/\/gcchemosensr.org\/).\n\nIloreta stressed the importance of seeing a doctor if you're experiencing changes to taste or smell, not only because it can be an early sign of COVID-19, but it can also be an indicator of other conditions like Parkinson's or sinus disease.\n\n[![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-60x60,f_auto,q_auto:best\/newscms\/2025_11\/2095932\/maura-hohman-headshot-te-250312.jpg)](https:\/\/www.today.com\/author\/maura-hohman-tdpn176049)\n\n[Maura Hohman](https:\/\/www.today.com\/author\/maura-hohman-tdpn176049)\n\nMaura Hohman is Assistant Managing Editor for TODAY.com and has been covering health and wellness since 2015.\n\n- ![Save hover state](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg)\n- [![](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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)Add TODAY to Google](https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=today.com)\n\n## More Coronavirus\n[![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-260x130,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2022-06\/covid-test-dark-te-220621-b061c2.jpg)Westend61 \/ Getty Images stock](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/health\/faint-line-covid-19-test-positive-rcna34641)\n\n![Save hover state](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg)\n### [Is a Faint Line On a COVID-19 Test Actually Positive? Yes, Experts Say](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/health\/faint-line-covid-19-test-positive-rcna34641)\n## Health\n\/\n\nUpdated Nov. 26, 2025\n\n[![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-260x130,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2024-02\/sunrise-846ed5.svg)](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/health\/still-testing-positive-covid-19-rcna12099)\n\n![Save hover state](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg)\n### [Still Testing Positive for COVID-19 After 10 Days? Here's What to Know](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/health\/still-testing-positive-covid-19-rcna12099)\n## Health\n\/\n\nUpdated Nov. 25, 2025\n\n[![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-260x130,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2024-09\/when-to-get-flu-shot-zz-240906-278c67.jpg)Getty Images](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/cold-flu\/best-time-get-flu-shot-rcna47541)\n\n![Save hover state](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg)\n### [When is the best time to get your flu shot? What to expect for the 2024-2025 flu season](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/cold-flu\/best-time-get-flu-shot-rcna47541)\n## Cold & Flu\n\/\n\nUpdated Sept. 17, 2024\n\n[![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-260x130,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2024-01\/covid-rebound-zz-240123-6c58f5.jpg)d3sign \/ Getty Images](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/covid-rebound-symptoms-rcna135234)\n\n![Save hover state](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg)\n### [What is COVID rebound? Doctors explain common symptoms and who's at risk](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/covid-rebound-symptoms-rcna135234)\n## Coronavirus\n\/\n\nUpdated Jan. 23, 2024\n\n[![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-260x130,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2023-08\/230823-Kentucky-Lee-County-Elementary-snip-ac-632p-cec024.jpg)Google Maps](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/news\/kentucky-school-district-cancels-classes-covid-flu-strep-rcna101536)\n\n![Save hover state](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg)\n### [Kentucky school district cancels classes 2 weeks into year due to COVID-19, flu and strep outbreaks](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/news\/kentucky-school-district-cancels-classes-covid-flu-strep-rcna101536)\n## Coronavirus\n\/\n\nUpdated Aug. 24, 2023\n\n[![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-260x130,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2023-08\/230817-one-time-use-covid-wastewater-ew-635p-e2a906.jpg)Jovanny Hernandez \/ Journal Sentinel via USA Today Network](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/coronavirus\/covid-19-cases-ticking-dont-panic-experts-say-rcna100544)\n\n![Save hover state](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg)\n### [COVID-19 cases are ticking up. But it’s not time to panic, experts say](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/coronavirus\/covid-19-cases-ticking-dont-panic-experts-say-rcna100544)\n## Coronavirus\n\/\n\nUpdated Aug. 18, 2023\n\n[![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-260x130,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2023-02\/covid-heart-attacks-2-jp-230209-e53517.jpg)ER Productions Limited \/ Getty Images](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/covid-heart-attack-young-people-rcna69903)\n\n![Save hover state](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg)\n### [Young people are more likely to die of heart attacks post-COVID, study finds. But why?](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/covid-heart-attack-young-people-rcna69903)\n## Health & Wellness\n\/\n\nUpdated July 25, 2023\n\n[![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-260x130,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2023-06\/long-covid-essay-pamela-bishop-mc-230605-5b9860.jpg)Courtesy Pamela Bishop](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/essay\/long-covid-diagnosis-acceptance-rcna86019)\n\n![Save hover state](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg)\n### [Making peace with my long COVID, almost 3 years later](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/essay\/long-covid-diagnosis-acceptance-rcna86019)\n## Essay\n\/\n\nUpdated June 6, 2023\n\n[![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-260x130,f_auto,q_auto:best\/newscms\/2020_32\/1596654\/allyson-felix-te-main-200803.jpg)Courtesy Allyson Felix](https:\/\/www.today.com\/parents\/allyson-felix-olympic-star-traumatic-birth-experience-t188436)\n\n![Save hover state](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg)\n### [Olympic star Allyson Felix's traumatic birth experience turned her into an advocate](https:\/\/www.today.com\/parents\/allyson-felix-olympic-star-traumatic-birth-experience-t188436)\n## Coronavirus\n\/\n\nUpdated April 20, 2023\n\n[![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-260x130,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2022-08\/covid-mc-220808-7a3c2d.jpg)David Paul Morris \/ Bloomberg via Getty Images](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/health\/when-will-covid-19-end-rcna41994)\n\n![Save hover state](data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg)\n### [When and how will the COVID-19 pandemic actually end?](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/health\/when-will-covid-19-end-rcna41994)\n## Health\n\/\n\nUpdated March 29, 2023\n\n[See More](https:\/\/www.today.com\/coronavirus)\n\n- [About](https:\/\/www.today.com\/about)\n- [Contact](https:\/\/www.today.com\/information\/contact-us-send-today-your-questions-comments-t215381)\n- [Help](https:\/\/nbcnews.zendesk.com\/hc\/en-us\/categories\/45174508085651-TODAY)\n- [Visit](https:\/\/www.today.com\/information\/join-today-live-plaza-t250868)\n- [TODAY Apps](https:\/\/apps.today.com\/mobile\/)\n- [AD Choices](https:\/\/www.nbcuniversal.com\/privacy\/cookies#accordionheader2)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.nbcuniversal.com\/privacy?intake=NBC_News)\n- [Your Privacy Choices](https:\/\/www.nbcuniversal.com\/privacy\/notrtoo\/?intake=NBC_News)\n- [CA Notice](https:\/\/www.nbcuniversal.com\/privacy\/california-consumer-privacy-act?intake=NBC_News)\n- [TERMS OF SERVICE](https:\/\/www.nbcuniversal.com\/terms)\n- [TERMS OF SERVICE](http:\/\/www.today.com\/start-today\/app\/supplemental-terms)\n- [Careers](https:\/\/www.nbcunicareers.com\/)\n- [Closed Captioning](https:\/\/www.today.com\/information\/closed-captioning-t215383)\n- [TODAY Sitemap](https:\/\/www.today.com\/archive\/)\n- [Advertise](https:\/\/together.nbcuni.com\/advertise\/?utm_source=today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=property_ad_pages)\n- [TODAY Store](https:\/\/www.nbcstore.com\/pages\/today-show)\n- [Shop TODAY](https:\/\/www.today.com\/shop)\n\n© 2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLCApple®, Apple logo® and App Store® are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.\n\n[search by queryly](https:\/\/www.queryly.com\/)\n\n[Advanced Search]()\n\n![close](https:\/\/www.queryly.com\/images\/whitecloseicon.png)","attrs_readable_markdown":"At this stage in the [coronavirus](https:\/\/www.today.com\/coronavirus) outbreak, it's been well-documented that [COVID-19 patients often experience a loss of taste and smell](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/coronavirus-covid-19-symptoms-may-include-loss-smell-or-taste-t176597), usually as one of the first symptoms. For most people, these senses return to normal within several weeks. But others have noticed substantial changes to previously familiar odors and flavors, if their taste and smell come back at all.\n\nWhile losing taste and smell happens often with viral infections and even other coronaviruses, the way that COVID-19 affects a patient's nose and mouth seems different, according to Dr. Sandeep Robert Datta, a Harvard neuroscientist who co-authored a recent study on anosmia, aka loss of smell, [published in Science Advances](https:\/\/neuro.hms.harvard.edu\/faculty-staff\/sandeep-robert-datta).\n\n\"In many cases, the reason you lose your sense of smell when you get a cold is that your mucus composition changes, your nose gets super stuffy,\" he told TODAY. \"When your cold resolves, that inflammation goes away and you can smell again. In COVID, it doesn't appear that that's the main thing going on.\"\n\n![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best\/MSNBC\/Components\/Video\/202006\/nn_ksn_covid_mystery_symptoms_200624_1920x1080.jpg)\n\n02:16\n## What do we know about COVID-19 and loss of taste and smell?\n[Research published in early July](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/coronavirus-smell-t185821) looked at 55 coronavirus patients who experienced impairment of taste or smell. Of these, most said their senses were either fully recovered or improved four weeks later, but about 11% reported that the symptoms had either not improved or gotten worse during that time.\n\nAccording to Datta, \"most people\" who experience loss of taste or smell due to COVID-19 regain these senses \"pretty quickly.\" He estimated within two to six weeks. That said, there's \"a very real subset of patients\" whose \"anosmia lasts much, much longer,\" he added. \"There are people who were infected at the beginning of the pandemic, and they still haven’t regained their sense of smell.\"\n\nOf these patients, Datta said, many report changes to their sense of smell when it does return, a condition called parosmia. For example, your favorite shampoo might smell completely different, and \"it can be extremely disconcerting,\" he said.\n\n![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best\/MSNBC\/Components\/Video\/202008\/tdy_health_mor_coronavirus_200806_1920x1080.jpg)\n\n05:55\n\nDatta's research, released in late July, found that one potential reason this could happen is that the virus may infect what he called \"support cells\" in the nose. These are not the cells that actually detect odors; rather, they're the cells that help those sensory neurons function properly.\n\n\"We think that in the people who have longer lasting anosmia, maybe the long-term lack of support from these (support) cells actually causes the sensory neurons to die,\" he explained. \"The sensory neurons have to be regenerated ... and one possibility is that in people with COVID, that might actually take extra long.\"\n\nAs a result, the parosmia may arise when those sensory neurons are \"reborn\" and have to reintegrate into the body's olfactory system all over again, Datta said. He added that for taste, it seems like both support cells and actual taste cells \"might be infectible\" by the coronavirus, and the underlying mechanism behind taste alterations has \"similarities\" to smell.\n\nRight now, it's not known why some patients' senses return normally and others' don't.\n\n## Will sense of smell and taste ever return normally for these patients?\nFor most people, loss of smell and taste is temporary, but there are people where it's unclear at this stage whether their senses will go back to normal. According to Datta, parosmia could resolve over time as the regrown sensory neurons go through a process of \"refinement.\"\n\n\"From what limited clinical data there is ... I think there is hope for these patients,\" he said. \"Our hope is that our research might one day lead to actual treatment ... Smell is an understudied sense, although it's profoundly important.\"\n\nDr. Alfred Iloreta, an otolaryngologist at Mount Sinai's Center for Post-COVID Care in New York City, told TODAY that research from previous viruses that cause anosmia shows \"there's a small proportion (of patients) that the smell never returns.\"\n\nHe added that he tells his patients, to set their expectations, \"there's a possibility that (taste and smell) won't ever come back.\"\n\n## What's it like to experience changes to your taste and smell?\nIloreta, who's seen a range of patients with anosmia and parosmia, as well as taste conditions, said there's \"a wide spectrum of presentations.\" Some patients notice decreases in their perception of flavors and odors, whereas others notices changes in these senses.\n\nA common symptom, he noted, is a \"constant fire or burning, smoke smell,\" and others include a \"foul, bitter smell\" and \"a feces-like smell.\" These patients often report significant changes to taste, too, as these two senses are closely linked. The combination can greatly diminish appetite, he added.\n\nMarcus Tomoff, a 28-year-old from Tampa, Florida, who tested positive for COVID-19 in early June, told TODAY he noticed one morning, before any other [symptoms](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/these-women-s-coronavirus-symptoms-never-went-away-their-doctors-t188097), that he couldn't smell or taste bacon. Shortly after, he realized that all other tastes had been replaced by \"a metal taste,\" and his lack of smell made him think he was congested.\n\nNow, he said he only has \"mild taste and smell.\" He can get whiffs of peppermint and lemons, but mostly he smells \"burning\" and tastes metal. Overall, the experience has \"mentally drained\" him, he said, adding, \"It’s kind of been like life’s little pleasures taken away from me ... You’re pretty much just eating and drinking to survive.\"\n\n![](https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best\/MSNBC\/Components\/Video\/202008\/tdy_health_9a_nahid_bhadelia_200805_1920x1080.jpg)\n\n06:15\n\n[Emi Boscamp, 28, a food editor at TODAY in New York City](https:\/\/www.today.com\/food\/what-it-s-lose-your-senses-smell-taste-t176907) who was sick with COVID-19 in mid-March, said that one of her favorite herbs, cilantro, now smells \"disgustingly soapy.\" She added that garlic and onions smell \"putrid but taste fine.\" While her senses slowly returned over about six weeks, she dealt with anxiety as a result. \"I’ll have to have a new job. I can’t be speaking about food if I can’t even taste it,\" she thought, at the time.\n\nJamie Glass, 47, of Monclair, New Jersey, told TODAY that she was sick in mid-March but still occasionally notices a \"burnt plastic smell\" and a \"plastic-y taste\" in her mouth. She's taken to adding extra seasoning to her cooking to compensate.\n\n\"It’s a little numbing, to be honest,\" she said. \"You don’t realize how much ... being able to smell something can make you feel hungry.\"\n\nBoth Datta and Iloreta noted that existing research links loss of smell to depression and anxiety.\n\n## What can you do if you're experiencing long-term loss of taste and smell?\nDatta said that smell training, \"where you take a set of familiar odors and you repeatedly expose yourself to those odors,\" may improve a patient's \"ability to associate an odor with a perception.\"\n\nIloreta has started a trial where patients take a high-purity [fish oil](https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/fish-oil-omega-3-supplements-eating-fish-every-day-healthy-t139838) supplement to see if it can improve sense of smell. Fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes growth of neurons, he said. If you're interested in trying this strategy yourself, talk to your doctor first. Other possible strategies that haven't been studied but are safe, he said, include topical nasal steroids, like Flonase.\n\nDatta also recommended seeking help from support groups for people who have lost their sense of smell or taste like [Abscent](https:\/\/abscent.org\/) or the U.K.-based [Fifth Sense](https:\/\/www.fifthsense.org.uk\/), and participating in studies, like the [Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research](https:\/\/gcchemosensr.org\/).\n\nIloreta stressed the importance of seeing a doctor if you're experiencing changes to taste or smell, not only because it can be an early sign of COVID-19, but it can also be an indicator of other conditions like Parkinson's or sinus disease.","meta_canonical":null}

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URL	https://www.today.com/health/coronavirus-loss-smell-taste-will-it-come-back-t188574
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Meta Title	Coronavirus loss of smell, taste: Will it come back?
Meta Description	Coronavirus symptoms include loss of taste and smell, a condition called anosmia. Many COVID-19 survivors say they've had changes to taste and smell for months.
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Boilerpipe Text	At this stage in the coronavirus outbreak, it's been well-documented that COVID-19 patients often experience a loss of taste and smell , usually as one of the first symptoms. For most people, these senses return to normal within several weeks. But others have noticed substantial changes to previously familiar odors and flavors, if their taste and smell come back at all. While losing taste and smell happens often with viral infections and even other coronaviruses, the way that COVID-19 affects a patient's nose and mouth seems different, according to Dr. Sandeep Robert Datta, a Harvard neuroscientist who co-authored a recent study on anosmia, aka loss of smell, published in Science Advances . "In many cases, the reason you lose your sense of smell when you get a cold is that your mucus composition changes, your nose gets super stuffy," he told TODAY. "When your cold resolves, that inflammation goes away and you can smell again. In COVID, it doesn't appear that that's the main thing going on." 02:16 What do we know about COVID-19 and loss of taste and smell? Research published in early July looked at 55 coronavirus patients who experienced impairment of taste or smell. Of these, most said their senses were either fully recovered or improved four weeks later, but about 11% reported that the symptoms had either not improved or gotten worse during that time. According to Datta, "most people" who experience loss of taste or smell due to COVID-19 regain these senses "pretty quickly." He estimated within two to six weeks. That said, there's "a very real subset of patients" whose "anosmia lasts much, much longer," he added. "There are people who were infected at the beginning of the pandemic, and they still haven’t regained their sense of smell." Of these patients, Datta said, many report changes to their sense of smell when it does return, a condition called parosmia. For example, your favorite shampoo might smell completely different, and "it can be extremely disconcerting," he said. 05:55 Datta's research, released in late July, found that one potential reason this could happen is that the virus may infect what he called "support cells" in the nose. These are not the cells that actually detect odors; rather, they're the cells that help those sensory neurons function properly. "We think that in the people who have longer lasting anosmia, maybe the long-term lack of support from these (support) cells actually causes the sensory neurons to die," he explained. "The sensory neurons have to be regenerated ... and one possibility is that in people with COVID, that might actually take extra long." As a result, the parosmia may arise when those sensory neurons are "reborn" and have to reintegrate into the body's olfactory system all over again, Datta said. He added that for taste, it seems like both support cells and actual taste cells "might be infectible" by the coronavirus, and the underlying mechanism behind taste alterations has "similarities" to smell. Right now, it's not known why some patients' senses return normally and others' don't. Will sense of smell and taste ever return normally for these patients? For most people, loss of smell and taste is temporary, but there are people where it's unclear at this stage whether their senses will go back to normal. According to Datta, parosmia could resolve over time as the regrown sensory neurons go through a process of "refinement." "From what limited clinical data there is ... I think there is hope for these patients," he said. "Our hope is that our research might one day lead to actual treatment ... Smell is an understudied sense, although it's profoundly important." Dr. Alfred Iloreta, an otolaryngologist at Mount Sinai's Center for Post-COVID Care in New York City, told TODAY that research from previous viruses that cause anosmia shows "there's a small proportion (of patients) that the smell never returns." He added that he tells his patients, to set their expectations, "there's a possibility that (taste and smell) won't ever come back." What's it like to experience changes to your taste and smell? Iloreta, who's seen a range of patients with anosmia and parosmia, as well as taste conditions, said there's "a wide spectrum of presentations." Some patients notice decreases in their perception of flavors and odors, whereas others notices changes in these senses. A common symptom, he noted, is a "constant fire or burning, smoke smell," and others include a "foul, bitter smell" and "a feces-like smell." These patients often report significant changes to taste, too, as these two senses are closely linked. The combination can greatly diminish appetite, he added. Marcus Tomoff, a 28-year-old from Tampa, Florida, who tested positive for COVID-19 in early June, told TODAY he noticed one morning, before any other symptoms , that he couldn't smell or taste bacon. Shortly after, he realized that all other tastes had been replaced by "a metal taste," and his lack of smell made him think he was congested. Now, he said he only has "mild taste and smell." He can get whiffs of peppermint and lemons, but mostly he smells "burning" and tastes metal. Overall, the experience has "mentally drained" him, he said, adding, "It’s kind of been like life’s little pleasures taken away from me ... You’re pretty much just eating and drinking to survive." 06:15 Emi Boscamp, 28, a food editor at TODAY in New York City who was sick with COVID-19 in mid-March, said that one of her favorite herbs, cilantro, now smells "disgustingly soapy." She added that garlic and onions smell "putrid but taste fine." While her senses slowly returned over about six weeks, she dealt with anxiety as a result. "I’ll have to have a new job. I can’t be speaking about food if I can’t even taste it," she thought, at the time. Jamie Glass, 47, of Monclair, New Jersey, told TODAY that she was sick in mid-March but still occasionally notices a "burnt plastic smell" and a "plastic-y taste" in her mouth. She's taken to adding extra seasoning to her cooking to compensate. "It’s a little numbing, to be honest," she said. "You don’t realize how much ... being able to smell something can make you feel hungry." Both Datta and Iloreta noted that existing research links loss of smell to depression and anxiety. What can you do if you're experiencing long-term loss of taste and smell? Datta said that smell training, "where you take a set of familiar odors and you repeatedly expose yourself to those odors," may improve a patient's "ability to associate an odor with a perception." Iloreta has started a trial where patients take a high-purity fish oil supplement to see if it can improve sense of smell. Fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes growth of neurons, he said. If you're interested in trying this strategy yourself, talk to your doctor first. Other possible strategies that haven't been studied but are safe, he said, include topical nasal steroids, like Flonase. Datta also recommended seeking help from support groups for people who have lost their sense of smell or taste like Abscent or the U.K.-based Fifth Sense , and participating in studies, like the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research . Iloreta stressed the importance of seeing a doctor if you're experiencing changes to taste or smell, not only because it can be an early sign of COVID-19, but it can also be an indicator of other conditions like Parkinson's or sinus disease.
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[Start TODAY](https://www.today.com/start-today/app) - [Parents](https://www.today.com/parents) - [Food](https://www.today.com/food) - [Life](https://www.today.com/life) [Coronavirus](https://www.today.com/coronavirus) # Some COVID-19 survivors experience prolonged loss of senses. Will they come back? While most COVID-19 patients with loss of taste and smell see it return within six weeks, others struggle with changes to these senses months later. Updated Aug. 7, 2020, 8:47 PM UTC / Source: TODAY [![](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_focal-100x100,f_auto,q_auto:best/newscms/2025_11/2095932/maura-hohman-headshot-te-250312.jpg) Maura Hohman Assistant Managing Editor](https://www.today.com/author/maura-hohman-tdpn176049) Skip to table of contents ![COVID-19 survivors report prolonged altered taste/smell?](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best/newscms/2020_32/1597649/senses-covid-jc-200805.jpg) Recent research found that about 10% of patients who lost their taste and smell due to COVID-19 did not see any improvement in their senses within four weeks.TODAY illustration / Getty Images ![Save hover state](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg) Create your free account or log in to save this article [![](data:image/svg+xml;base64,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)Add TODAY to Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=today.com) At this stage in the [coronavirus](https://www.today.com/coronavirus) outbreak, it's been well-documented that [COVID-19 patients often experience a loss of taste and smell](https://www.today.com/health/coronavirus-covid-19-symptoms-may-include-loss-smell-or-taste-t176597), usually as one of the first symptoms. For most people, these senses return to normal within several weeks. But others have noticed substantial changes to previously familiar odors and flavors, if their taste and smell come back at all. While losing taste and smell happens often with viral infections and even other coronaviruses, the way that COVID-19 affects a patient's nose and mouth seems different, according to Dr. Sandeep Robert Datta, a Harvard neuroscientist who co-authored a recent study on anosmia, aka loss of smell, [published in Science Advances](https://neuro.hms.harvard.edu/faculty-staff/sandeep-robert-datta). "In many cases, the reason you lose your sense of smell when you get a cold is that your mucus composition changes, your nose gets super stuffy," he told TODAY. "When your cold resolves, that inflammation goes away and you can smell again. In COVID, it doesn't appear that that's the main thing going on." 0 seconds of 2 minutes, 16 secondsVolume 90% Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts EnabledDisabled Play/PauseSPACE Increase Volume↑ Decrease Volume↓ Seek Forward→ Seek Backward← Captions On/Offc Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreenf Mute/Unmutem Decrease Caption Size\- Increase Caption Size\+ or = Seek %0-9 Settings Off CC English Font Color White Font Opacity 100% Font Size 100% Font Family Arial Character Edge None Background Color Black Background Opacity 50% Window Color Black Window Opacity 0% Reset White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 200% 175% 150% 125% 100% 75% 50% Arial Courier Georgia Impact Lucida Console Tahoma Times New Roman Trebuchet MS Verdana None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop Shadow White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% Auto270p (330 kbps) 1080p (5227 kbps) 720p (3577 kbps) 540p (1794 kbps) 360p (984 kbps) 270p (573 kbps) 270p (330 kbps) Live 00:00 02:16 02:16 ![](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best/MSNBC/Components/Video/202006/nn_ksn_covid_mystery_symptoms_200624_1920x1080.jpg) - [![](data:image/svg+xml;base64,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)Add TODAY to Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=today.com) [Coronavirus patients with confusing, long-lasting symptoms](https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/coronavirus-patients-with-confusing-long-lasting-symptoms-85936197666) 02:16 ## What do we know about COVID-19 and loss of taste and smell? [Research published in early July](https://www.today.com/health/coronavirus-smell-t185821) looked at 55 coronavirus patients who experienced impairment of taste or smell. Of these, most said their senses were either fully recovered or improved four weeks later, but about 11% reported that the symptoms had either not improved or gotten worse during that time. According to Datta, "most people" who experience loss of taste or smell due to COVID-19 regain these senses "pretty quickly." He estimated within two to six weeks. That said, there's "a very real subset of patients" whose "anosmia lasts much, much longer," he added. "There are people who were infected at the beginning of the pandemic, and they still haven’t regained their sense of smell." Of these patients, Datta said, many report changes to their sense of smell when it does return, a condition called parosmia. For example, your favorite shampoo might smell completely different, and "it can be extremely disconcerting," he said. 0 seconds of 5 minutes, 54 secondsVolume 90% Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts EnabledDisabled Play/PauseSPACE Increase Volume↑ Decrease Volume↓ Seek Forward→ Seek Backward← Captions On/Offc Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreenf Mute/Unmutem Decrease Caption Size\- Increase Caption Size\+ or = Seek %0-9 Settings Off CC English Font Color White Font Opacity 100% Font Size 100% Font Family Arial Character Edge None Background Color Black Background Opacity 50% Window Color Black Window Opacity 0% Reset White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 200% 175% 150% 125% 100% 75% 50% Arial Courier Georgia Impact Lucida Console Tahoma Times New Roman Trebuchet MS Verdana None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop Shadow White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% Auto270p (325 kbps) 1080p (4284 kbps) 720p (3454 kbps) 540p (1723 kbps) 360p (938 kbps) 270p (560 kbps) 270p (325 kbps) Live 00:00 05:55 05:54 ![](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best/MSNBC/Components/Video/202008/tdy_health_mor_coronavirus_200806_1920x1080.jpg) - [![](data:image/svg+xml;base64,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)Add TODAY to Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=today.com) [Researchers study impact of coronavirus on children’s brains](https://www.today.com/video/researchers-study-impact-of-coronavirus-on-children-s-brains-89635397542) 05:55 Datta's research, released in late July, found that one potential reason this could happen is that the virus may infect what he called "support cells" in the nose. These are not the cells that actually detect odors; rather, they're the cells that help those sensory neurons function properly. "We think that in the people who have longer lasting anosmia, maybe the long-term lack of support from these (support) cells actually causes the sensory neurons to die," he explained. "The sensory neurons have to be regenerated ... and one possibility is that in people with COVID, that might actually take extra long." As a result, the parosmia may arise when those sensory neurons are "reborn" and have to reintegrate into the body's olfactory system all over again, Datta said. He added that for taste, it seems like both support cells and actual taste cells "might be infectible" by the coronavirus, and the underlying mechanism behind taste alterations has "similarities" to smell. Right now, it's not known why some patients' senses return normally and others' don't. ## Will sense of smell and taste ever return normally for these patients? For most people, loss of smell and taste is temporary, but there are people where it's unclear at this stage whether their senses will go back to normal. According to Datta, parosmia could resolve over time as the regrown sensory neurons go through a process of "refinement." "From what limited clinical data there is ... I think there is hope for these patients," he said. "Our hope is that our research might one day lead to actual treatment ... Smell is an understudied sense, although it's profoundly important." Dr. Alfred Iloreta, an otolaryngologist at Mount Sinai's Center for Post-COVID Care in New York City, told TODAY that research from previous viruses that cause anosmia shows "there's a small proportion (of patients) that the smell never returns." He added that he tells his patients, to set their expectations, "there's a possibility that (taste and smell) won't ever come back." ## What's it like to experience changes to your taste and smell? Iloreta, who's seen a range of patients with anosmia and parosmia, as well as taste conditions, said there's "a wide spectrum of presentations." Some patients notice decreases in their perception of flavors and odors, whereas others notices changes in these senses. A common symptom, he noted, is a "constant fire or burning, smoke smell," and others include a "foul, bitter smell" and "a feces-like smell." These patients often report significant changes to taste, too, as these two senses are closely linked. The combination can greatly diminish appetite, he added. Marcus Tomoff, a 28-year-old from Tampa, Florida, who tested positive for COVID-19 in early June, told TODAY he noticed one morning, before any other [symptoms](https://www.today.com/health/these-women-s-coronavirus-symptoms-never-went-away-their-doctors-t188097), that he couldn't smell or taste bacon. Shortly after, he realized that all other tastes had been replaced by "a metal taste," and his lack of smell made him think he was congested. Now, he said he only has "mild taste and smell." He can get whiffs of peppermint and lemons, but mostly he smells "burning" and tastes metal. Overall, the experience has "mentally drained" him, he said, adding, "It’s kind of been like life’s little pleasures taken away from me ... You’re pretty much just eating and drinking to survive." 0 seconds of 6 minutes, 15 secondsVolume 90% Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts EnabledDisabled Play/PauseSPACE Increase Volume↑ Decrease Volume↓ Seek Forward→ Seek Backward← Captions On/Offc Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreenf Mute/Unmutem Decrease Caption Size\- Increase Caption Size\+ or = Seek %0-9 Settings Off CC English Font Color White Font Opacity 100% Font Size 100% Font Family Arial Character Edge None Background Color Black Background Opacity 50% Window Color Black Window Opacity 0% Reset White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 200% 175% 150% 125% 100% 75% 50% Arial Courier Georgia Impact Lucida Console Tahoma Times New Roman Trebuchet MS Verdana None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop Shadow White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% Auto270p (306 kbps) 1080p (3949 kbps) 720p (3344 kbps) 540p (1610 kbps) 360p (890 kbps) 270p (525 kbps) 270p (306 kbps) Live 00:00 06:15 06:15 ![](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best/MSNBC/Components/Video/202008/tdy_health_9a_nahid_bhadelia_200805_1920x1080.jpg) - [![](data:image/svg+xml;base64,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)Add TODAY to Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=today.com) [Dr. Nahid Bhadelia: Coronavirus is set to be](https://www.today.com/video/dr-nahid-bhadelia-coronavirus-is-set-to-be-3rd-leading-cause-of-death-89573445790) 06:15 [Emi Boscamp, 28, a food editor at TODAY in New York City](https://www.today.com/food/what-it-s-lose-your-senses-smell-taste-t176907) who was sick with COVID-19 in mid-March, said that one of her favorite herbs, cilantro, now smells "disgustingly soapy." She added that garlic and onions smell "putrid but taste fine." While her senses slowly returned over about six weeks, she dealt with anxiety as a result. "I’ll have to have a new job. I can’t be speaking about food if I can’t even taste it," she thought, at the time. Jamie Glass, 47, of Monclair, New Jersey, told TODAY that she was sick in mid-March but still occasionally notices a "burnt plastic smell" and a "plastic-y taste" in her mouth. She's taken to adding extra seasoning to her cooking to compensate. "It’s a little numbing, to be honest," she said. "You don’t realize how much ... being able to smell something can make you feel hungry." Both Datta and Iloreta noted that existing research links loss of smell to depression and anxiety. ## What can you do if you're experiencing long-term loss of taste and smell? Datta said that smell training, "where you take a set of familiar odors and you repeatedly expose yourself to those odors," may improve a patient's "ability to associate an odor with a perception." Iloreta has started a trial where patients take a high-purity [fish oil](https://www.today.com/health/fish-oil-omega-3-supplements-eating-fish-every-day-healthy-t139838) supplement to see if it can improve sense of smell. Fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes growth of neurons, he said. If you're interested in trying this strategy yourself, talk to your doctor first. Other possible strategies that haven't been studied but are safe, he said, include topical nasal steroids, like Flonase. Datta also recommended seeking help from support groups for people who have lost their sense of smell or taste like [Abscent](https://abscent.org/) or the U.K.-based [Fifth Sense](https://www.fifthsense.org.uk/), and participating in studies, like the [Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research](https://gcchemosensr.org/). Iloreta stressed the importance of seeing a doctor if you're experiencing changes to taste or smell, not only because it can be an early sign of COVID-19, but it can also be an indicator of other conditions like Parkinson's or sinus disease. [![](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_focal-60x60,f_auto,q_auto:best/newscms/2025_11/2095932/maura-hohman-headshot-te-250312.jpg)](https://www.today.com/author/maura-hohman-tdpn176049) [Maura Hohman](https://www.today.com/author/maura-hohman-tdpn176049) Maura Hohman is Assistant Managing Editor for TODAY.com and has been covering health and wellness since 2015. - ![Save hover state](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg) - [![](data:image/svg+xml;base64,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)Add TODAY to Google](https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=today.com) ## More Coronavirus [![](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_focal-260x130,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2022-06/covid-test-dark-te-220621-b061c2.jpg)Westend61 / Getty Images stock](https://www.today.com/health/health/faint-line-covid-19-test-positive-rcna34641) ![Save hover state](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg) ### [Is a Faint Line On a COVID-19 Test Actually Positive? 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But why?](https://www.today.com/health/covid-heart-attack-young-people-rcna69903) ## Health & Wellness / Updated July 25, 2023 [![](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_focal-260x130,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2023-06/long-covid-essay-pamela-bishop-mc-230605-5b9860.jpg)Courtesy Pamela Bishop](https://www.today.com/health/essay/long-covid-diagnosis-acceptance-rcna86019) ![Save hover state](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg) ### [Making peace with my long COVID, almost 3 years later](https://www.today.com/health/essay/long-covid-diagnosis-acceptance-rcna86019) ## Essay / Updated June 6, 2023 [![](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_focal-260x130,f_auto,q_auto:best/newscms/2020_32/1596654/allyson-felix-te-main-200803.jpg)Courtesy Allyson Felix](https://www.today.com/parents/allyson-felix-olympic-star-traumatic-birth-experience-t188436) ![Save hover state](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg) ### [Olympic star Allyson Felix's traumatic birth experience turned her into an advocate](https://www.today.com/parents/allyson-felix-olympic-star-traumatic-birth-experience-t188436) ## Coronavirus / Updated April 20, 2023 [![](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_focal-260x130,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2022-08/covid-mc-220808-7a3c2d.jpg)David Paul Morris / Bloomberg via Getty Images](https://www.today.com/health/health/when-will-covid-19-end-rcna41994) ![Save hover state](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjAiIGhlaWdodD0iMjAiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyMCAyMCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj4KPHBhdGggZD0iTTkuMjgyNzEgMTEuMTkxOEwzLjAwMDAzIDE3LjQ5ODVWMUgxN1YxNy41NjU4TDEwLjcwMjQgMTEuMTk0NUw5Ljk5MzkzIDEwLjQ3NzhMOS4yODI3MSAxMS4xOTE4WiIgZmlsbD0iIzdDNEU5RiIgZmlsbC1vcGFjaXR5PSIwLjMiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzdDNEU5RiIgc3Ryb2tlLXdpZHRoPSIyIi8+Cjwvc3ZnPgogICAg) ### [When and how will the COVID-19 pandemic actually end?](https://www.today.com/health/health/when-will-covid-19-end-rcna41994) ## Health / Updated March 29, 2023 [See More](https://www.today.com/coronavirus) - [About](https://www.today.com/about) - [Contact](https://www.today.com/information/contact-us-send-today-your-questions-comments-t215381) - [Help](https://nbcnews.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/categories/45174508085651-TODAY) - [Visit](https://www.today.com/information/join-today-live-plaza-t250868) - [TODAY Apps](https://apps.today.com/mobile/) - [AD Choices](https://www.nbcuniversal.com/privacy/cookies#accordionheader2) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.nbcuniversal.com/privacy?intake=NBC_News) - [Your Privacy Choices](https://www.nbcuniversal.com/privacy/notrtoo/?intake=NBC_News) - [CA Notice](https://www.nbcuniversal.com/privacy/california-consumer-privacy-act?intake=NBC_News) - [TERMS OF SERVICE](https://www.nbcuniversal.com/terms) - [TERMS OF SERVICE](http://www.today.com/start-today/app/supplemental-terms) - [Careers](https://www.nbcunicareers.com/) - [Closed Captioning](https://www.today.com/information/closed-captioning-t215383) - [TODAY Sitemap](https://www.today.com/archive/) - [Advertise](https://together.nbcuni.com/advertise/?utm_source=today&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=property_ad_pages) - [TODAY Store](https://www.nbcstore.com/pages/today-show) - [Shop TODAY](https://www.today.com/shop) © 2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLCApple®, Apple logo® and App Store® are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. 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Readable Markdown	At this stage in the [coronavirus](https://www.today.com/coronavirus) outbreak, it's been well-documented that [COVID-19 patients often experience a loss of taste and smell](https://www.today.com/health/coronavirus-covid-19-symptoms-may-include-loss-smell-or-taste-t176597), usually as one of the first symptoms. For most people, these senses return to normal within several weeks. But others have noticed substantial changes to previously familiar odors and flavors, if their taste and smell come back at all. While losing taste and smell happens often with viral infections and even other coronaviruses, the way that COVID-19 affects a patient's nose and mouth seems different, according to Dr. Sandeep Robert Datta, a Harvard neuroscientist who co-authored a recent study on anosmia, aka loss of smell, [published in Science Advances](https://neuro.hms.harvard.edu/faculty-staff/sandeep-robert-datta). "In many cases, the reason you lose your sense of smell when you get a cold is that your mucus composition changes, your nose gets super stuffy," he told TODAY. "When your cold resolves, that inflammation goes away and you can smell again. In COVID, it doesn't appear that that's the main thing going on." ![](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best/MSNBC/Components/Video/202006/nn_ksn_covid_mystery_symptoms_200624_1920x1080.jpg) 02:16 ## What do we know about COVID-19 and loss of taste and smell? [Research published in early July](https://www.today.com/health/coronavirus-smell-t185821) looked at 55 coronavirus patients who experienced impairment of taste or smell. Of these, most said their senses were either fully recovered or improved four weeks later, but about 11% reported that the symptoms had either not improved or gotten worse during that time. According to Datta, "most people" who experience loss of taste or smell due to COVID-19 regain these senses "pretty quickly." He estimated within two to six weeks. That said, there's "a very real subset of patients" whose "anosmia lasts much, much longer," he added. "There are people who were infected at the beginning of the pandemic, and they still haven’t regained their sense of smell." Of these patients, Datta said, many report changes to their sense of smell when it does return, a condition called parosmia. For example, your favorite shampoo might smell completely different, and "it can be extremely disconcerting," he said. ![](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best/MSNBC/Components/Video/202008/tdy_health_mor_coronavirus_200806_1920x1080.jpg) 05:55 Datta's research, released in late July, found that one potential reason this could happen is that the virus may infect what he called "support cells" in the nose. These are not the cells that actually detect odors; rather, they're the cells that help those sensory neurons function properly. "We think that in the people who have longer lasting anosmia, maybe the long-term lack of support from these (support) cells actually causes the sensory neurons to die," he explained. "The sensory neurons have to be regenerated ... and one possibility is that in people with COVID, that might actually take extra long." As a result, the parosmia may arise when those sensory neurons are "reborn" and have to reintegrate into the body's olfactory system all over again, Datta said. He added that for taste, it seems like both support cells and actual taste cells "might be infectible" by the coronavirus, and the underlying mechanism behind taste alterations has "similarities" to smell. Right now, it's not known why some patients' senses return normally and others' don't. ## Will sense of smell and taste ever return normally for these patients? For most people, loss of smell and taste is temporary, but there are people where it's unclear at this stage whether their senses will go back to normal. According to Datta, parosmia could resolve over time as the regrown sensory neurons go through a process of "refinement." "From what limited clinical data there is ... I think there is hope for these patients," he said. "Our hope is that our research might one day lead to actual treatment ... Smell is an understudied sense, although it's profoundly important." Dr. Alfred Iloreta, an otolaryngologist at Mount Sinai's Center for Post-COVID Care in New York City, told TODAY that research from previous viruses that cause anosmia shows "there's a small proportion (of patients) that the smell never returns." He added that he tells his patients, to set their expectations, "there's a possibility that (taste and smell) won't ever come back." ## What's it like to experience changes to your taste and smell? Iloreta, who's seen a range of patients with anosmia and parosmia, as well as taste conditions, said there's "a wide spectrum of presentations." Some patients notice decreases in their perception of flavors and odors, whereas others notices changes in these senses. A common symptom, he noted, is a "constant fire or burning, smoke smell," and others include a "foul, bitter smell" and "a feces-like smell." These patients often report significant changes to taste, too, as these two senses are closely linked. The combination can greatly diminish appetite, he added. Marcus Tomoff, a 28-year-old from Tampa, Florida, who tested positive for COVID-19 in early June, told TODAY he noticed one morning, before any other [symptoms](https://www.today.com/health/these-women-s-coronavirus-symptoms-never-went-away-their-doctors-t188097), that he couldn't smell or taste bacon. Shortly after, he realized that all other tastes had been replaced by "a metal taste," and his lack of smell made him think he was congested. Now, he said he only has "mild taste and smell." He can get whiffs of peppermint and lemons, but mostly he smells "burning" and tastes metal. Overall, the experience has "mentally drained" him, he said, adding, "It’s kind of been like life’s little pleasures taken away from me ... You’re pretty much just eating and drinking to survive." ![](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best/MSNBC/Components/Video/202008/tdy_health_9a_nahid_bhadelia_200805_1920x1080.jpg) 06:15 [Emi Boscamp, 28, a food editor at TODAY in New York City](https://www.today.com/food/what-it-s-lose-your-senses-smell-taste-t176907) who was sick with COVID-19 in mid-March, said that one of her favorite herbs, cilantro, now smells "disgustingly soapy." She added that garlic and onions smell "putrid but taste fine." While her senses slowly returned over about six weeks, she dealt with anxiety as a result. "I’ll have to have a new job. I can’t be speaking about food if I can’t even taste it," she thought, at the time. Jamie Glass, 47, of Monclair, New Jersey, told TODAY that she was sick in mid-March but still occasionally notices a "burnt plastic smell" and a "plastic-y taste" in her mouth. She's taken to adding extra seasoning to her cooking to compensate. "It’s a little numbing, to be honest," she said. "You don’t realize how much ... being able to smell something can make you feel hungry." Both Datta and Iloreta noted that existing research links loss of smell to depression and anxiety. ## What can you do if you're experiencing long-term loss of taste and smell? Datta said that smell training, "where you take a set of familiar odors and you repeatedly expose yourself to those odors," may improve a patient's "ability to associate an odor with a perception." Iloreta has started a trial where patients take a high-purity [fish oil](https://www.today.com/health/fish-oil-omega-3-supplements-eating-fish-every-day-healthy-t139838) supplement to see if it can improve sense of smell. Fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes growth of neurons, he said. If you're interested in trying this strategy yourself, talk to your doctor first. Other possible strategies that haven't been studied but are safe, he said, include topical nasal steroids, like Flonase. Datta also recommended seeking help from support groups for people who have lost their sense of smell or taste like [Abscent](https://abscent.org/) or the U.K.-based [Fifth Sense](https://www.fifthsense.org.uk/), and participating in studies, like the [Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research](https://gcchemosensr.org/). Iloreta stressed the importance of seeing a doctor if you're experiencing changes to taste or smell, not only because it can be an early sign of COVID-19, but it can also be an indicator of other conditions like Parkinson's or sinus disease.
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