During a discussion at Columbia University, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease explained, said that the COVID-19 virus has flu-like symptoms including fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea. “Of particular interest is the rather frequent occurrence of loss of smell and taste, which precedes the onset of respiratory symptoms,” he revealed.
According to Scientific American, an estimated 80 percent of people with COVID-19 have smell disturbances. These can include dysgeusia or ageusia (a disruption or loss of taste, respectively) or changes in chemesthesis (the ability to sense chemical irritants such as hot chilies). “Smell loss is so common in people with the disease that some researchers have recommended its use as a diagnostic test because it may be a more reliable marker than fever or other symptoms,” they report. And, while most people regain their senses within weeks, others still struggle to taste or smell for months after recovering from their initial infection.
Of course, a loss of smell or taste requires calling a healthcare provider immediately and COVID-19 testing.
Dr. Fauci’s fundamentals include: wearing a face mask, maintaining social distancing, avoiding large crowds, and indoor activities with people you’re not sheltering, along with good hand hygiene.
