How our sense of smell to COVID-19 may indicate
A loss of the sense of smell occurs in many people with COVID-19 on the third day of the infection, as a recent study shows. Most of those Affected suffer a loss of the sense of taste. These symptoms should be observed, if people are unsure whether you are suffering from COVID-19.
In the current investigation of the University of Cincinnati, it was found that the majority of people with COVID-19 suffer and on the third day of the infection, a loss of the sense of smell. The results of the study were published in the English scientific journal “Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery”.
103 ill persons were examined for the study
In the investigation of the characteristics and symptoms of 103 persons were examined, in which COVID-19 was diagnosed. These people were asked how many days they had COVID-19 symptoms. In addition, they were asked to match the timing and the severity of the loss of or reduction of the sense of smell along with other symptoms.
About 61 percent of the Participants had problems with the sense of smell
According to the researchers at least 61 percent of the Participants reported a reduced or lost sense of smell. The average onset of the reduction or the complete loss of the sense of smell was 3.4 days.
Severity of smell loss correlates with the Severity of the COVID-19-symptoms
The study will occur also found that the correlates of severity of smell loss in order of how bad other COVID-19 symptoms. If the so-called anosmia (loss of Smell) tends to be worse, reported by the patients, in addition, greater shortness of breath, a higher fever and cough.
Reduced sense of smell indicates the stage of the disease
The connection between the diminished sense of smell, and COVID-19 gives information about in which stage of the disease, the affected Person is located. If COVID-19 ill people have a diminished sense of smell, it shows that it stops within the first week of the disease process and the disease one or two weeks, explain the researchers from the University of Cincinnati in a press release.
Diminished sense of smell could be an important indicator
An experimental anti-viral drug (Remedesivir) for the treatment of Ebola could also be used for the treatment of COVID-19 promising. An available anti-viral treatment for COVID-19 could mean that it is much more important to have an indicator for the beginning, the prognosis and the progress of the disease in the diseased persons, adds the research group. Anti viral drugs have worked in the past, at best, if they were administered early during a viral infection. This also seems to apply to Remedesivir.
Remedesivir for the emergency treatment of severe COVID-19-cases
The drug has already been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the emergency treatment of seriously ill COVID-19 patients, since one of the National Institutes of Health-sponsored clinical study has shown that ill persons experienced in taking Remmdesivir compared to a Placebo, a shorter recovery time.
Loss of smell indicates possible candidates for Remedesivir
The loss of the sense of smell can be an indication of what people later develop more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath. As soon as Remedesivir is to a greater extent available, may identify a decreased sense of smell, therefore, people, the preferred candidate for the drug would be, explain the researchers.
These symptoms also suggest COVID-19
The loss of the sense of smell is an indicator for COVID-19, but he is not the only factor. Symptoms, such as shortness of breath and difficulty breathing should also be observed. The study found that younger people and women, the likelihood of smell loss is increased.
Do not confuse this COVID-19-symptoms with an Allergy!
In addition, about 50 percent of the Participants had a stuffy nose and 35 percent suffered from a running nose. The researchers believe that this is important, because previous studies pointed to the fact that these nasal symptoms would occur in the case of COVID-19 rare and these symptoms are due to an Allergy and not to the novel Coronavirus.
Compliance with nasal symptoms can prevent the disease from others
According to the research group to a greater awareness of the nasal symptoms of COVID-19 is not required in order for people to walk around in Public and sneeze and take with them everything was in order, since it is only allergies. It could very well be COVID-19 and Wearing a mask for protection from other people would be appropriate in such a case. (as)