What’s anosmia? Loss of smell a hot topic in states hit hard by coronavirus

People in the United States are hardest hit Coronavirus pandemic look for information about one of the more unusual symptoms – anosmia, loss of sense of smell. According to Google Trends, searches related to the symptom have increased significantly in the past week in countries like Texas and Arizona, which are among the places with the highest rate of new cases in the United States.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Thursday that the state’s reopening has been interrupted due to the recent increase in positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the state. Abbott told CBS subsidiary KFDA-TV in Amarillo that the state was “considering major restrictions.”

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey ended the order to stay at home in mid-May, and local coronavirus cases have now accumulated there. The search for anosmia is also high in South Carolina, another state that reopened prematurely and is now seeing an increase in positive tests.

Some are born with it

Coronavirus is not the only cause of anosmia – some people are born with a total inability to recognize smells. In April, Brooklyn-based filmmaker Jacob LaMendola spoke to CNET about not knowing until fifth grade that he had it and that his first smell of something (fresh chocolate from a New York store) overwhelmed him to tears. And although it appears to be a less invasive symptom than some others, a study published by the University of East Anglia in late last year found that loss of smell can interfere with almost every aspect of life, from practical to emotional.

Damage to the nasal cells

COVID-19 is not the first known coronavirus to cause odor loss, according to the British Rhinological Society. A March study by Harvard scientists suggests that COVID-19 could damage a specific set of cells in the nose. At the time of the study, it was unclear whether COVID-19 could cause permanent odor loss or not.

Loss can linger

No two cases of COVID-19 are the same, but in a Summary of people who have recoveredAnosmia has been mentioned frequently. Olivia, a student who tested positive for the virus in March, found that odor loss was one of her longest-lasting symptoms, along with overloading.

On the CDC symptom list

A new loss of taste or smell is now one of the reasons 11 symptoms The US Centers for Disease Control lists as a sign that someone could be suffering from COVID-19 disease. Symptoms can appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus, the CDC reports.

They remain good hygiene and social distance Top two options to prevent you from getting sick.