New study uses imaging to show how COVID-19 causes the body to attack itself and last updated 2021-02-19 13:59:03-05 CHICAGO â Researchers say a new study has, for the first time, confirmed that COVID-19 can cause the body to attack itself. Deep medical imaging is uncovering that some symptoms of soreness and joint pain can be prolonged and require lifelong management Aside from losing her sense of smell last June, Tajma Hodzick had none of the tell-tale signs of a COVID infection. âI didn't even lose my sense of taste completely. It was mostly just sense of smell,â she recalled.