June 14, 2023 -- Millions of Americans who were infected with COVID-19 still have not fully recovered their sense of taste or smell, a new report says.
Almost 36 million people were diagnosed in 2021, and 60% of them reported accompanying losses in smell or taste, says the study by Mass Eye and Ear, which is affiliated with Harvard Medical School, in Boston. The study was published in The Laryngoscope.
Most people fully regained the senses, but about 24% didn’t get smell back completely, and more than 3% had no recovery, the study says. The report says the numbers were similar with those who lost the sense of taste.
“Many people never fully recovered,” Neil Bhattacharyya, MD, a professor of otolaryngology and one of the study’s authors, told Fortune, estimating that up to 6 million people still have lingering symptoms. “If you lost your sense of smell, did you get it back? There’s about a one in four chance you didn’t. That’s terrible.”
Researchers looked at the records of 30,000 adults who had COVID-19 in 2021. They reported that patients who suffered more severe cases were less likely to regain some or all their senses.
Some patients said they lost appetite because they couldn’t smell food. There’s concern, too, about losing the ability to smell gas and smoke, spoiled food, and dirty diapers.
People with symptoms should see their doctor, Bhattacharyya said. The symptoms might be caused by something other than lingering COVID-19 effects and treatable.