Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – It has been months since you lost the ability to taste and smell after contracting the “Covid-19” virus. After many attempts to book an appointment with a specialist, it turns out that the waiting list is long and can extend for 6 months or more.
Justin Turner, associate professor of otolaryngology, head and neck surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, USA, said: “There has been a huge increase in patient calls since the start of the pandemic and we have not been able to see 10% of patients who had They wanted to come to the clinic. “
Dr Zara Patel noted: “Unfortunately, this is still the case, and this has left many who have yet to recover from the loss of smell and taste struggling to get help.”
“One of the big problems that we realized at the beginning of the pandemic was that almost no one but a few specialists knew of anything,” said Patel, professor of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at Stanford University School. of Medicine On the loss of smell and how to start diagnosing or treating it.
To address this issue, Patel reported that they brought together 50 experts to create a 600-plus-page document that combines controlled scientific knowledge with medical best practices on anosmia.
“It is the first peer-reviewed summary of its kind on smell,” Patel said, adding that the document “is available for reading not only by doctors, but by patients and anyone.”
The guidelines, published in the International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, establish an action plan for general practitioners on how to screen, diagnose and treat anosmia.
medical examination
Clinical evaluation determines the recommended order for diagnosing loss of smell due to any cause, not just COVID-19.
Patient history: The doctor should know the detailed history of the patient, according to the instructions.
This includes asking questions about the onset, severity, and psychological impact of loss of smell, as well as possible factors, such as exposure to toxic chemicals, injury, head or nose surgery, and radiation to treat cancer. .
Headaches, chronic sinus problems, autoimmune diseases, certain medications, and vitamin or mineral deficiencies can all be associated with a loss of smell, as well as colds, flu, and other viral diseases such as COVID-19.
A person’s age can also play a role.
Olfactory test: Doctors must perform a certified smell test.
However, be aware that some tests may not be sensitive enough to detect shades of smell loss, which could lead your doctor to conclude that nothing is wrong.
And it can also go the other way, as many people don’t realize the nuances when their sense of smell is restored, says Dr. Eric Holbrook, MD, associate professor of otolaryngology, head and neck surgery at Harvard Medical. Boston School, American.
“There have been research papers showing that humans have a hard time assessing the gradual change in their sense of smell,” Holbrooke explained.
Complete physical examination: A complete physical examination should be performed, including rhinoscopy and examination of the cranial nerves.
If the patient’s history shows evidence of a neurologic disorder or chronic sinusitis, additional tests should be ordered as indicated.
Possible treatments
The guidelines recommend different treatments depending on the cause of the loss of smell.
latent disease: If the loss of smell is due to an underlying disease, such as chronic sinusitis or a neurological condition, guidelines suggest that doctors refer the patient to a specialist and offer treatment options.
Surgery and trauma: If the loss of smell is caused by skull surgery, omega-3 fatty acids are recommended as a treatment.
If the cause is trauma from a car accident, for example, oral zinc and topical vitamin A are treatment options.
Viral infection: If the loss of smell is due to a viral infection such as COVID-19 or the flu, the recommended treatment is olfactory training during a process in which patients sniff twice a day for at least 6 months.
And the bad smells?
People with a loss of smell can start to smell unpleasant suddenly.
Food and drinks have an unpleasant, metallic or pungent odor.
Doctors call this condition “parosmia” and it occurs when the olfactory receptors fail to deliver accurate information to the brain.
People may smell unpleasant after suffering a head injury, neurological condition, or a viral infection such as “Covid-19”.
The good news is that experts believe this condition is a sign of healing.
The guidelines state that olfactory training and the use of certain medications are all treatment options.
“Some people may respond to drugs we call neuromodulators – drugs that modify nerve signaling in the brain,” Patel said.
emotional impact
Finally, the guidelines recommend discussing with your doctor the emotional impact that loss of smell may have on you and referring to therapists or specialists as needed.
Some people adapt without smell, Patel said, but for others the condition can lead to depression and malnutrition, especially if smells are distorted.
