"‘Olfactory Dysfunction’ Appears 3 Days After COVID-19 Infection"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] A study has found that 60% of patients infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) experience a decline in their sense of smell starting about three days after infection.

According to Health Day News on the 14th, a research team led by Professor Ahmad Sedaghat, an otolaryngology-head and neck surgery specialist at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, conducted a survey of 103 patients in Switzerland who were diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past six weeks, revealing these results.

The research team asked patients whether they experienced olfactory dysfunction, and if so, when and how severely it occurred. The results showed that 61% of all patients experienced a decrease or loss of olfactory function. On average, this symptom appeared 3.4 days after infection. The team noted that these symptoms were more prevalent in younger patients and female patients.

Professor Sedaghat stated, "We confirmed that the severity of olfactory dysfunction is correlated with how severe the COVID-19 symptoms are." Patients who experienced loss of smell had more severe high fever, cough, and difficulty breathing compared to those who did not.

Another characteristic of patients with olfactory abnormalities was nasal congestion (about 50%) and runny nose (35%), symptoms that are very rare in general patients. Since these symptoms commonly appear in patients with allergic rhinitis, the research team emphasized that it is important to be cautious not to mistakenly assume these are not related to COVID-19 infection. They also added that wearing protective gear such as masks is advisable for the sake of others.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.