Alterations in smell or taste in mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients

Editor's Note

Alterations in smell or taste were frequently reported in mildly symptomatic patients with COVID-19 infection and often were the first apparent symptom, this study finds.

In this telephone survey of 202 COVID-19 outpatients, 130 (64.4%) reported an altered sense of smell or taste. Of these, 45 (34.6%) also reported blocked nose.

Among all patients, the timing of an altered sense of smell or taste onset occurred before other symptoms in 24 (11.9%), at the same time as other symptoms in 46 (22.8%), and after other symptoms in 54 (26.7%).

An altered sense of smell or taste was reported as the only symptom by 6 patients (3.0%). An altered sense of smell or taste was more frequent in women (72.4%) than men (55.7%).

If these results are confirmed, testing and self-isolation of patients with new onset of altered taste or smell should be considered during the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers say.