COVID-19 can dull your sense of smell for years after you have it

By Stephen Beech

Loss of smell due to COVID-19 may linger for years, warns a new study.

People who suspect that their sense of smell has been dulled following a bout of the COVID-19 virus are likely correct, according to research involving a 40-odour test.

Even those who do not notice any issues may be impaired, say American scientists.

A team of researchers from across the United States explored a link between the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and hyposmia - the reduced ability to smell.

The results revealed that 80% of participants who reported a change in their smelling ability after having COVID-19 earned low scores on a clinical scent-detection test taken around two years later.

Of that group, 23% were severely impaired or had entirely lost their sense of smell.

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