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A recent study by a team of scientists from the United Kingdom found that the loss of taste and smell after infection with the coronavirus, negatively affects the quality of life and psychological well-being of those who recover but suffer from the persistence of these symptoms.
According to the current study published on the pre-print site medRxiv After viral infection, about 56% of patients develop abnormal odor sensations, including parosmia (detection of a distorted odor) and delusional (smells that are not actually present), after viral infection, and such Odor distortions are known to disrupt the overall quality of life. Most patients constantly suffer from bad odors.
Psychological effect on loss of smell and taste
Loss of smell and taste has also been recognized as a common symptom in patients. COVID-19[female[feminine. Although the majority of patients regain sensation within weeks of infection, approximately 10% of patients report long-term complications, including optical illusion, parosmia, dysmorphia (distorted sense of taste) and chemical change (chemical sensitivity). .
To treat the effect of altered smell and taste associated with COVID-19[female[feminine , Current Studies Fellows have registered a total of 9,000 community members Facebook Online, and the study was conducted from March 24 to September 30, 2020.
The scientists first analyzed the publications and comments of all participants on Facebook Then they asked the participants to record their personal experiences on the altered perception.
It is striking that the results of the study shed light on the widespread impact of the loss of smell / taste on the general quality of life and the psychological well-being of a large number of individuals in particular. convalescence from Covid-19 disease.
The majority of participants reported having difficulty understanding, interpreting, and dealing with the altered smell and taste, and the most confusing fact was the sudden onset of these symptoms.
Many participants felt they were living with an “invisible disease”, which significantly disrupted their routine daily activities, and for some patients there was daily variation in the severity of symptoms.
As several participants mentioned, one of the biggest challenges has been explaining the emotional aspects of the loss of smell and taste to others, in part because of the invisible nature of the symptoms.
As a result, many respondents reported suffering from a lack of empathy and support from others, even stating that they did not receive any medical help or support from health professionals.
Change in eating behavior
As the participants reported, the most important symptom problem was eating and enjoying eating, as this change in eating behavior affected participants in two ways. For some participants, increased food intake, especially junk food or unhealthy snacks, and by contrast, some participants reported severe apathy about eating, which led to body weight loss. significant.
Based on these results, the scientists believe that loss of smell and taste should not be considered a mild symptom in coronavirus survivors, given the significant impact of symptoms on overall quality of life, the authorities concerned should take intensive measures to disseminate awareness-raising and support systems. In addition, health workers should be more attentive and supportive of people with severe acute respiratory syndrome. COVID-19[female[feminine So that they can overcome the impairments of altered perceptual perception.
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