change volume Dr. Evan Reiter, of VCU Health, on how COVID-19 affects taste
Losing sense of smell or taste is considered one of the hallmark symptoms of COVID-19 that could affect some of those who were infected. But whether that could be permanent for some who had the symptom is unclear.
Nearly 40% of COVID-19 patients with symptoms report a change in sense of smell and taste as one of their first or only symptoms, according to the medical director of the Smell and Taste Disorders Center at Virginia Commonwealth University Health.
“Just a loss of sense of smell is something not to be taken lightly. People should seek medical evaluation and even testing, given that testing is more available,” Dr. Evan Reiter said.