Easy way to tell if your loss of smell is due to coronavirus - or a common cold

 

Scientists have revealed an easy to way to tell if your loss of smell is due to coronavirus or the common cold. Alongside a high temperature and new, continuous cough, a loss of smell or taste is also on the NHS’s list of key Covid-19 symptoms.

But knowing whether your loss of smell or taste is a result of Covid-19 or simply a cold can be tricky. Now, researchers from the University of East Anglia have revealed the key way to tell if your symptoms are likely to be linked to coronavirus.

According to the team, Covid-19 patients with smell loss don’t tend to have a blocked, stuffy or runny nose, and can breathe freely. Meanwhile, those with smell loss cannot tell the difference between bitter or sweet - something that those with the common cold can still do.

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To reach these conclusions, the researchers carried out smell and taste tests on 30 participants - 10 with coronavirus, 10 with bad colds, and 10 healthy people. The tests revealed that smell loss was more profound in the Covid-19 patients, who were also unable to discern bitter or sweet tastes.

Speaking to the BBC, Professor Carl Philpott, who led the study, said: “There really do appear to be distinguishing features that set the coronavirus apart from other respiratory viruses. "This is very exciting because it means that smell and taste tests could be used to discriminate between Covid-19 patients and people with a regular cold or flu.”

If you’re concerned that you’ve lost your sense of smell or taste, Professor Philpott suggests that you carry out your own tests at home using strong flavours like garlic, lemons and coffee. However, he added that Covid-19 tests were still essential if you think you might have the virus.