Coronavirus: Loss of sense of taste or smell could be a symptom of flu as well as COVID, research says

Loss of sense of taste and smell was one of the most distinctive and distinguishable symptoms for COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic. While people continue to experience this symptom when infected with COVID, with time and new variants, the symptom is not that dominant anymore.

Further, new research suggests a loss of sense of smell or taste could be a sign of COVID-19 as well as seasonal illnesses such as cold and flu, making it much harder to identify the cause of this problem.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States also lists a loss of sense of smell or taste as a symptom of both COVID and the flu.

Along with a loss of smell or taste, there are several other overlapping signs between COVID and flu. These include:

• Fever

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Runny nose

• Muscle pain

• Body aches

• Headache

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea

• Shortness of breath

• Fatigue

According to the CDC, there are some ways in which similar signs – diarrhoea and loss of sense of taste or smell – can be distinguished as signs of COVID or flu.

The CDC says that diarrhoea is “more frequent in children with flu” while it “can occur in any age with COVID-19.” As for a loss of sense of taste or smell, while found in both conditions, it is more likely to be experienced by patients with COVID rather than flu.

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It is important to get tested if you can, to clearly determine whether you have COVID or not. In any case, self-isolation is recommended to help reduce the spread of the virus. Since multiple COVID infections can impact one’s health and there is no 100 percent guarantee of immunity from previous infection or vaccination, it is best to avoid contact with sick people and avoid public places if you are infected.

Losing one’s sense of taste or smell can be frustrating. Consult your doctor, especially if your symptom does not improve or lingers for too long. Along with that, here are some measures you can try to regain your sense of taste and smell:

-Eat cool or room temperature foods

-Try flavours you like and recall them while eating the food item

-Keep your mouth clean and healthy by brushing your teeth in the morning and before bed

-Rinse your mouth with water if it feels dry

-Try adding strong flavours such as spices in your food to help with taste, don't add too much sugar or salt

-Try smell training, which requires regularly smelling different things to relearn their smell

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India reported 2,060 new Coronavirus cases, raising its tally to 4,46,30,888, the Health Ministry said on Monday. The data stated that 10 more fatalities, which included four deaths reconciled by Kerala, have pushed the death toll to 5,28,905.

The number of active cases increased to 26,834, according to data updated by the ministry at 8 am. The national COVID-19 recovery rate has increased to 98.75 per cent.