🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 170 (from laksa110)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa170.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, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/covid-19-affects-sense-of-smell-differently-than-colds-flu\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/covid-19-affects-sense-of-smell-differently-than-colds-flu\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/news\/article\/covid-19-affects-sense-of-smell-differently-than-colds-flu","crawl_time":1776988656,"first_indexed_time":1714620841,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"org,uclahealth!www,\/news\/article\/covid-19-affects-sense-of-smell-differently-than-colds-flu s443","src_root_hash":"15898094397791395770","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"COVID-19 affects sense of smell differently than colds, flu | UCLA Health","meta_descriptions":[],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Dear Doctor: Why are people making a big deal out of the fact that you can lose your sense of smell and taste when you get sick with COVID-19? The same thing happens to me when I’ve got a plain old cold.\nDear Reader: Many of us who have slogged through the unpleasant symptoms of a cold or the flu know that losing your sense of smell, and often a large portion of your sense of taste, is a common part of the experience. The same has proven to be true with COVID-19. However, it turns out that this loss of the sense of smell, known as anosmia, occurs for two very different reasons.\nLet’s start with a cold and the flu. Our immune systems fight these infections on multiple fronts, including the one-two punch of mucus production and inflammation. This combination does an excellent job of blocking our sinuses. Since the sense of taste is closely linked to the sense of smell, both take a steep dive during the plugged-up phase of an illness. With specialized nerve endings in the nasal passages unable to send a full range of information to the brain, the subtleties of taste are gone. What we’re left with are the broad strokes of bold flavors. That’s why, when we’re fighting a cold or the flu, the sweetness of hot tea with honey or the saltiness of chicken soup tastes particularly good.\nWhen it comes to COVID-19, researchers have recently uncovered the surprising reason for anosmia as one of the earliest symptoms of infection. Rather than congestion, as with a cold or the flu, the loss of smell in people with COVID-19 occurs due to how the virus affects the nervous system. According to a study published by researchers at Harvard University earlier this summer, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, attacks certain cells whose job is to support the olfactory sensory neurons. These are the specialized nerve cells that detect the chemical compounds that make up a scent, known as odorants, and transmit that information to the brain. The brain then decodes the electrical impulses, which allows us to experience them as scent. By damaging the support cells, the virus prevents the olfactory sensory neurons from responding to the molecules that make up different types of scents. The good news is that for most patients, recovery from COVID-19 includes a return of their sense of smell.\nAs we’ve mentioned here before, researchers are still in the earliest stages of learning about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. That makes each new bit of information important. As cases began to mount, it became clear that only about half of contagious people presented with a fever as an early symptom. At the same time, it emerged that a loss of the sense of smell was one of the first symptoms of infection. Since early intervention gives people who become ill with COVID-19 a better chance of recovery, this has been a significant finding. Thus, the widespread news stories and discussions that you have noticed.\n(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c\/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)\nRelated articles\nCOVID-19: Track the latest developments and look back at how the pandemic\nevolved\nLink is external\nSecond dose of COVID-19 vaccine rolls out to frontline\nworkers\nLink is external","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to main content](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/news\/article\/covid-19-affects-sense-of-smell-differently-than-colds-flu#main-content)\n\nExplore links (header)\n\nExplore UCLA Health\n\n- [UCLA Health Home](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/)\n- [About Us](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/discover\/about)\n- [Cancer Center](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/cancer)\n- [Hospitals & Clinics](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/locations)\n- [School of Medicine](https:\/\/medschool.ucla.edu\/)\n- [Academic Departments](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/departments)\n- [News & Insights](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/news)\n- [Community & Equity](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/community-equity)\n\n[Refer a 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[Home](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/)\n2. [News & Insights](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/news)\n# COVID-19 affects sense of smell differently than colds, flu\n\n![Image](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/landscape_3x2_016000_640x427\/public\/images\/d4\/img-0840.jpg?f=263e4431&itok=mowzQX9X)\n\nSeptember 21, 2020\n\nBy Ask the Doctors\n\n3 min read\n\n**Dear Doctor: Why are people making a big deal out of the fact that you can lose your sense of smell and taste when you get sick with COVID-19? The same thing happens to me when I’ve got a plain old cold.**\n\nDear Reader: Many of us who have slogged through the unpleasant symptoms of a cold or the flu know that losing your sense of smell, and often a large portion of your sense of taste, is a common part of the experience. The same has proven to be true with COVID-19. However, it turns out that this loss of the sense of smell, known as anosmia, occurs for two very different reasons.\n\nLet’s start with a cold and the flu. Our immune systems fight these infections on multiple fronts, including the one-two punch of mucus production and inflammation. This combination does an excellent job of blocking our sinuses. Since the sense of taste is closely linked to the sense of smell, both take a steep dive during the plugged-up phase of an illness. With specialized nerve endings in the nasal passages unable to send a full range of information to the brain, the subtleties of taste are gone. What we’re left with are the broad strokes of bold flavors. That’s why, when we’re fighting a cold or the flu, the sweetness of hot tea with honey or the saltiness of chicken soup tastes particularly good.\n\nWhen it comes to COVID-19, researchers have recently uncovered the surprising reason for anosmia as one of the earliest symptoms of infection. Rather than congestion, as with a cold or the flu, the loss of smell in people with COVID-19 occurs due to how the virus affects the nervous system. According to a study published by researchers at Harvard University earlier this summer, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, attacks certain cells whose job is to support the olfactory sensory neurons. These are the specialized nerve cells that detect the chemical compounds that make up a scent, known as odorants, and transmit that information to the brain. The brain then decodes the electrical impulses, which allows us to experience them as scent. By damaging the support cells, the virus prevents the olfactory sensory neurons from responding to the molecules that make up different types of scents. The good news is that for most patients, recovery from COVID-19 includes a return of their sense of smell.\n\n![Image](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/max_width_006000_240\/public\/images\/d9\/atd-ko-glazier_0.jpg?f=f6240c56&itok=OctmMVRw)\n\nElizabeth Ko, MD and Eve Glazier, MD\n\nAs we’ve mentioned here before, researchers are still in the earliest stages of learning about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. That makes each new bit of information important. As cases began to mount, it became clear that only about half of contagious people presented with a fever as an early symptom. At the same time, it emerged that a loss of the sense of smell was one of the first symptoms of infection. Since early intervention gives people who become ill with COVID-19 a better chance of recovery, this has been a significant finding. Thus, the widespread news stories and discussions that you have noticed.\n\n*(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c\/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)*\n\n## Related articles\n[**COVID-19: Track the latest developments and look back at how the pandemic evolved Link is external**](https:\/\/connect.uclahealth.org\/2020\/12\/04\/covid-19-follow-the-latest-developments-and-look-back-at-how-we-got-here\/)\n\n[**Second dose of COVID-19 vaccine rolls out to frontline workers Link is external**](https:\/\/connect.uclahealth.org\/2021\/01\/08\/second-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-rolls-out-to-frontline-workers\/)\n\n[View All News & Insights](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/news)\n\n## Related Content\n### Articles:\n- [Ask the Doctors](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/news\/search?f%5B0%5D=topic%3A80081)\n- [Cold and Flu](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/news\/search?f%5B0%5D=tag%3A80941)\n- [Covid-19](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/news\/search?f%5B0%5D=tag%3A78736)\n- [Healthy Lifestyle](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/news\/search?f%5B0%5D=topic%3A80096)\n- [Smell](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/news\/search?f%5B0%5D=tag%3A81301)\n## Physicians\n![Elizabeth Ko, MD](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/square_006000_240x240\/public\/images\/ko-elizabeth-1801189048.jpg?h=1d36513c&f=912d216b&itok=qCEsyLhv)\n\nElizabeth Ko, MD\n\nInternal Medicine\n\n[Elizabeth Ko, MD](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/providers\/elizabeth-ko)\n\n![Eve M. Glazier, MD](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/square_006000_240x240\/public\/images\/glazier-eve-1285839852.jpg?h=6303ee9e&f=e6108873&itok=pHzdPEL8)\n\nEve M. Glazier, MD\n\nInternal Medicine\n\n[Eve M. 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We care.](https:\/\/www.uclahealth.org\/patient-resources\/support-information\/patient-experience\/we-listen-we-care)\n\n© 2026 UCLA Health","attrs_readable_markdown":"**Dear Doctor: Why are people making a big deal out of the fact that you can lose your sense of smell and taste when you get sick with COVID-19? The same thing happens to me when I’ve got a plain old cold.**\n\nDear Reader: Many of us who have slogged through the unpleasant symptoms of a cold or the flu know that losing your sense of smell, and often a large portion of your sense of taste, is a common part of the experience. The same has proven to be true with COVID-19. However, it turns out that this loss of the sense of smell, known as anosmia, occurs for two very different reasons.\n\nLet’s start with a cold and the flu. Our immune systems fight these infections on multiple fronts, including the one-two punch of mucus production and inflammation. This combination does an excellent job of blocking our sinuses. Since the sense of taste is closely linked to the sense of smell, both take a steep dive during the plugged-up phase of an illness. With specialized nerve endings in the nasal passages unable to send a full range of information to the brain, the subtleties of taste are gone. What we’re left with are the broad strokes of bold flavors. That’s why, when we’re fighting a cold or the flu, the sweetness of hot tea with honey or the saltiness of chicken soup tastes particularly good.\n\nWhen it comes to COVID-19, researchers have recently uncovered the surprising reason for anosmia as one of the earliest symptoms of infection. Rather than congestion, as with a cold or the flu, the loss of smell in people with COVID-19 occurs due to how the virus affects the nervous system. According to a study published by researchers at Harvard University earlier this summer, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, attacks certain cells whose job is to support the olfactory sensory neurons. These are the specialized nerve cells that detect the chemical compounds that make up a scent, known as odorants, and transmit that information to the brain. The brain then decodes the electrical impulses, which allows us to experience them as scent. By damaging the support cells, the virus prevents the olfactory sensory neurons from responding to the molecules that make up different types of scents. The good news is that for most patients, recovery from COVID-19 includes a return of their sense of smell.\n\nAs we’ve mentioned here before, researchers are still in the earliest stages of learning about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. That makes each new bit of information important. As cases began to mount, it became clear that only about half of contagious people presented with a fever as an early symptom. At the same time, it emerged that a loss of the sense of smell was one of the first symptoms of infection. Since early intervention gives people who become ill with COVID-19 a better chance of recovery, this has been a significant finding. Thus, the widespread news stories and discussions that you have noticed.\n\n*(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c\/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)*\n\n## Related articles\n[**COVID-19: Track the latest developments and look back at how the pandemic evolved Link is external**](https:\/\/connect.uclahealth.org\/2020\/12\/04\/covid-19-follow-the-latest-developments-and-look-back-at-how-we-got-here\/)\n\n[**Second dose of COVID-19 vaccine rolls out to frontline workers Link is external**](https:\/\/connect.uclahealth.org\/2021\/01\/08\/second-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-rolls-out-to-frontline-workers\/)","meta_canonical":null,"ml_categories_json":"{\"\/Health\":993,\"\/Health\/Health_Conditions\":751,\"\/Health\/Health_Conditions\/Respiratory_Conditions\":395}","ml_types_json":"{\"\/Article\":998,\"\/Article\/Study_or_Research_Findings\":375}","ml_intent_types_json":"{\"Informational\":999}","meta_language":"en","attrs_author":null,"attrs_publish_time":0,"attrs_original_publish_time":1714620841,"attrs_is_republished":0,"attrs_nr_words":"1368","attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words":"574","body_ext_links_number":13,"body_int_links_number":86,"meta_nofollow":0,"meta_noarchive":0,"props_was_rendered":1,"src_redirect":"","download_time_msec":163,"download_ttfb_msec":163,"download_size":18691}

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COVID-19 affects sense of smell differently than colds, flu | UCLA Health

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Dear Doctor: Why are people making a big deal out of the fact that you can lose your sense of smell and taste when you get sick with COVID-19? The same thing happens to me when I’ve got a plain old cold. Dear Reader: Many of us who have slogged through the unpleasant symptoms of a cold or the flu know that losing your sense of smell, and often a large portion of your sense of taste, is a common part of the experience. The same has proven to be true with COVID-19. However, it turns out that this loss of the sense of smell, known as anosmia, occurs for two very different reasons. Let’s start with a cold and the flu. Our immune systems fight these infections on multiple fronts, including the one-two punch of mucus production and inflammation. This combination does an excellent job of blocking our sinuses. Since the sense of taste is closely linked to the sense of smell, both take a steep dive during the plugged-up phase of an illness. With specialized nerve endings in the nasal passages unable to send a full range of information to the brain, the subtleties of taste are gone. What we’re left with are the broad strokes of bold flavors. That’s why, when we’re fighting a cold or the flu, the sweetness of hot tea with honey or the saltiness of chicken soup tastes particularly good. When it comes to COVID-19, researchers have recently uncovered the surprising reason for anosmia as one of the earliest symptoms of infection. Rather than congestion, as with a cold or the flu, the loss of smell in people with COVID-19 occurs due to how the virus affects the nervous system. According to a study published by researchers at Harvard University earlier this summer, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, attacks certain cells whose job is to support the olfactory sensory neurons. These are the specialized nerve cells that detect the chemical compounds that make up a scent, known as odorants, and transmit that information to the brain. The brain then decodes the electrical impulses, which allows us to experience them as scent. By damaging the support cells, the virus prevents the olfactory sensory neurons from responding to the molecules that make up different types of scents. The good news is that for most patients, recovery from COVID-19 includes a return of their sense of smell. As we’ve mentioned here before, researchers are still in the earliest stages of learning about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. That makes each new bit of information important. As cases began to mount, it became clear that only about half of contagious people presented with a fever as an early symptom. At the same time, it emerged that a loss of the sense of smell was one of the first symptoms of infection. Since early intervention gives people who become ill with COVID-19 a better chance of recovery, this has been a significant finding. Thus, the widespread news stories and discussions that you have noticed. (Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.) Related articles COVID-19: Track the latest developments and look back at how the pandemic evolved Link is external Second dose of COVID-19 vaccine rolls out to frontline workers Link is external

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[Contact Us](https://www.uclahealth.org/contact-us) Breadcrumb 1. [Home](https://www.uclahealth.org/) 2. [News & Insights](https://www.uclahealth.org/news) # COVID-19 affects sense of smell differently than colds, flu ![Image](https://www.uclahealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_016000_640x427/public/images/d4/img-0840.jpg?f=263e4431&itok=mowzQX9X) September 21, 2020 By Ask the Doctors 3 min read **Dear Doctor: Why are people making a big deal out of the fact that you can lose your sense of smell and taste when you get sick with COVID-19? The same thing happens to me when I’ve got a plain old cold.** Dear Reader: Many of us who have slogged through the unpleasant symptoms of a cold or the flu know that losing your sense of smell, and often a large portion of your sense of taste, is a common part of the experience. The same has proven to be true with COVID-19. However, it turns out that this loss of the sense of smell, known as anosmia, occurs for two very different reasons. Let’s start with a cold and the flu. Our immune systems fight these infections on multiple fronts, including the one-two punch of mucus production and inflammation. This combination does an excellent job of blocking our sinuses. Since the sense of taste is closely linked to the sense of smell, both take a steep dive during the plugged-up phase of an illness. With specialized nerve endings in the nasal passages unable to send a full range of information to the brain, the subtleties of taste are gone. What we’re left with are the broad strokes of bold flavors. That’s why, when we’re fighting a cold or the flu, the sweetness of hot tea with honey or the saltiness of chicken soup tastes particularly good. When it comes to COVID-19, researchers have recently uncovered the surprising reason for anosmia as one of the earliest symptoms of infection. Rather than congestion, as with a cold or the flu, the loss of smell in people with COVID-19 occurs due to how the virus affects the nervous system. According to a study published by researchers at Harvard University earlier this summer, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, attacks certain cells whose job is to support the olfactory sensory neurons. These are the specialized nerve cells that detect the chemical compounds that make up a scent, known as odorants, and transmit that information to the brain. The brain then decodes the electrical impulses, which allows us to experience them as scent. By damaging the support cells, the virus prevents the olfactory sensory neurons from responding to the molecules that make up different types of scents. The good news is that for most patients, recovery from COVID-19 includes a return of their sense of smell. ![Image](https://www.uclahealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/max_width_006000_240/public/images/d9/atd-ko-glazier_0.jpg?f=f6240c56&itok=OctmMVRw) Elizabeth Ko, MD and Eve Glazier, MD As we’ve mentioned here before, researchers are still in the earliest stages of learning about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. That makes each new bit of information important. As cases began to mount, it became clear that only about half of contagious people presented with a fever as an early symptom. At the same time, it emerged that a loss of the sense of smell was one of the first symptoms of infection. Since early intervention gives people who become ill with COVID-19 a better chance of recovery, this has been a significant finding. Thus, the widespread news stories and discussions that you have noticed. *(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)* ## Related articles [**COVID-19: Track the latest developments and look back at how the pandemic evolved Link is external**](https://connect.uclahealth.org/2020/12/04/covid-19-follow-the-latest-developments-and-look-back-at-how-we-got-here/) [**Second dose of COVID-19 vaccine rolls out to frontline workers Link is external**](https://connect.uclahealth.org/2021/01/08/second-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-rolls-out-to-frontline-workers/) [View All News & Insights](https://www.uclahealth.org/news) ## Related Content ### Articles: - [Ask the Doctors](https://www.uclahealth.org/news/search?f%5B0%5D=topic%3A80081) - [Cold and Flu](https://www.uclahealth.org/news/search?f%5B0%5D=tag%3A80941) - [Covid-19](https://www.uclahealth.org/news/search?f%5B0%5D=tag%3A78736) - [Healthy Lifestyle](https://www.uclahealth.org/news/search?f%5B0%5D=topic%3A80096) - [Smell](https://www.uclahealth.org/news/search?f%5B0%5D=tag%3A81301) ## Physicians ![Elizabeth Ko, MD](https://www.uclahealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/square_006000_240x240/public/images/ko-elizabeth-1801189048.jpg?h=1d36513c&f=912d216b&itok=qCEsyLhv) Elizabeth Ko, MD Internal Medicine [Elizabeth Ko, MD](https://www.uclahealth.org/providers/elizabeth-ko) ![Eve M. 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Glazier, MD](https://www.uclahealth.org/providers/eve-glazier) Share: - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uclahealth.org%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Fcovid-19-affects-sense-of-smell-differently-than-colds-flu) - [X-Twitter](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uclahealth.org%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Fcovid-19-affects-sense-of-smell-differently-than-colds-flu) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uclahealth.org%2Fnews%2Farticle%2Fcovid-19-affects-sense-of-smell-differently-than-colds-flu) ## Related Articles ![Weight loss](https://www.uclahealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_012000_480x320/public/images/a2/istock-1393991964.jpeg?f=3d5a1379&itok=KcR2IBB8) ### [Researching GLP-1 drugs and Parkinson's progression](https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/researching-glp-1-drugs-and-parkinsons-progression) April 22, 2026 3 min read ![Image](https://www.uclahealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_012000_480x320/public/images/0c/istock-658476830-adobespark-1024x576.jpg?f=3f4150b4&itok=JQEBw23h) ### [Eustachian tube dysfunction causes blockage](https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/eustachian-tube-dysfunction-causes-blockage) April 20, 2026 3 min read ![Older couple playing tennis](https://www.uclahealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_012000_480x320/public/images/0f/older-couple-tennis-court.jpg?f=78c386f1&itok=TAC7J06V) ### [Super-agers have healthy cognitive function](https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/super-agers-have-healthy-cognitive-function) April 17, 2026 3 min read [View all Related Articles](https://www.uclahealth.org/news/search/?f%5B0%5D=topic%3A80081&f%5B1%5D=topic%3A80096&) [![UCLA Health](https://www.uclahealth.org/themes/custom/uclahealth/dist/images/ucla-health-logo-footer.svg)](https://www.uclahealth.org/) - 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Readable Markdown

**Dear Doctor: Why are people making a big deal out of the fact that you can lose your sense of smell and taste when you get sick with COVID-19? The same thing happens to me when I’ve got a plain old cold.** Dear Reader: Many of us who have slogged through the unpleasant symptoms of a cold or the flu know that losing your sense of smell, and often a large portion of your sense of taste, is a common part of the experience. The same has proven to be true with COVID-19. However, it turns out that this loss of the sense of smell, known as anosmia, occurs for two very different reasons. Let’s start with a cold and the flu. Our immune systems fight these infections on multiple fronts, including the one-two punch of mucus production and inflammation. This combination does an excellent job of blocking our sinuses. Since the sense of taste is closely linked to the sense of smell, both take a steep dive during the plugged-up phase of an illness. With specialized nerve endings in the nasal passages unable to send a full range of information to the brain, the subtleties of taste are gone. What we’re left with are the broad strokes of bold flavors. That’s why, when we’re fighting a cold or the flu, the sweetness of hot tea with honey or the saltiness of chicken soup tastes particularly good. When it comes to COVID-19, researchers have recently uncovered the surprising reason for anosmia as one of the earliest symptoms of infection. Rather than congestion, as with a cold or the flu, the loss of smell in people with COVID-19 occurs due to how the virus affects the nervous system. According to a study published by researchers at Harvard University earlier this summer, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, attacks certain cells whose job is to support the olfactory sensory neurons. These are the specialized nerve cells that detect the chemical compounds that make up a scent, known as odorants, and transmit that information to the brain. The brain then decodes the electrical impulses, which allows us to experience them as scent. By damaging the support cells, the virus prevents the olfactory sensory neurons from responding to the molecules that make up different types of scents. The good news is that for most patients, recovery from COVID-19 includes a return of their sense of smell. As we’ve mentioned here before, researchers are still in the earliest stages of learning about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. That makes each new bit of information important. As cases began to mount, it became clear that only about half of contagious people presented with a fever as an early symptom. At the same time, it emerged that a loss of the sense of smell was one of the first symptoms of infection. Since early intervention gives people who become ill with COVID-19 a better chance of recovery, this has been a significant finding. Thus, the widespread news stories and discussions that you have noticed. *(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)* ## Related articles [**COVID-19: Track the latest developments and look back at how the pandemic evolved Link is external**](https://connect.uclahealth.org/2020/12/04/covid-19-follow-the-latest-developments-and-look-back-at-how-we-got-here/) [**Second dose of COVID-19 vaccine rolls out to frontline workers Link is external**](https://connect.uclahealth.org/2021/01/08/second-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-rolls-out-to-frontline-workers/)

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