COVID Growing Public Health Concern of COVID-19 Chronic Olfactory Dysfunction

A new study estimates that more than 1 million people in the U.S. may not have regained their sense of smell months after falling ill with COVID-19.

JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery published new research Thursday that focused on COVID-19 patients who lost their sense of smell and taste after contracting the coronavirus.

The study estimates that between 700,000 and 1.6 million Americans who had the virus either lost or had a change in their sense of smell. For some, the change has lasted for more than six months.

Most of these people recover their sense of smell eventually, but the study suggests that some may never do so.

The study calls for more research into the long-term loss of a sense of smell, which researchers call “an emerging public health concern.”

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/otol/articlepdf/2786433/jamaotolaryngology_khan_2021_ld_210013_1636849206.3365.pdf

Growing Public Health Concern of COVID-19 Chronic Olfactory Dysfunction | Public Health | JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery | JAMA Network
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2786433