How Long Does a Loss of Smell and Taste Last After Coronavirus? Doctors Say It Varies
, but the agency doesn’t say anything about it lingering. Still, experts say some people have struggled with this after recovering from the virus. Here’s how long a loss of smell or taste may last once you’ve had COVID-19—and what you can do to try to get it back, according to doctors.Anosmia, the medical term for a lost sense of smell, is often linked to ageusia, the medical term for a lost sense of taste.
It’s not entirely clear why this happens with COVID-19, but biopsies on patients who have experienced a lost sense of smell and taste have indicated that there can be nerve damage in the nasal cavity, Dr. Holbrook says. “The good news is that the epithelium, the lining in that area, have cells that can divide and regenerate those nerves,” Dr. Holbrook says. “But they have to travel back to the brain and make proper connections. That can take time.
He adds that “it’s very hard to tell” who will get their sense of smell back and who won’t. “The only thing we can say is that if, during the year, a patient starts noticing some improvement, that’s a good sign,” he says.Unfortunately, there is no particular medication that can help bring back your sense of smell after having a virus, Dr. Holbrook says. However, something known as smell training may have a positive impact.
He recommends starting out with four strong odors like rose, eucalyptus, lemon, and clove . “Smell each odor for approximately 10 seconds with a little rest in between,” Dr. Holbrook says. While you’re doing this, he urges you to “try to remember what it smells like.”Smell training is more of a marathon, not a sprint, and Dr. Holbrook recommends doing this twice a day for months, switching up the scents after a few months.
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