: COVID-19: Does Smell Therapy Work Is Loss of Smell Linked to Pneumonia? #IndiaNEWS #COVID-19 Fact Check This article is a part of a series by The Better India to share verified information about

COVID-19: Does Smell Therapy Work Is Loss of Smell Linked to Pneumonia? #IndiaNEWS #COVID -19 Fact Check
This article is a part of a series by The Better India to share verified information about COVID-19 care. While several posts on various aspects of fighting COVID-19 are being circulated on social media and messaging services like WhatsApp, we urge you not to trust unverified content. To separate fact from fiction, we will be sharing the videos and content with doctors and experts and bring you their responses with scientific research-backed information.
One of the symptoms of COVID-19 include loss of smell. According to a European study, patients with mild cases of COVID-19 were much more likely to report losing their sense of smell than patients with moderate to critical cases. Almost all the patients got their sense of smell back within 6 months, the study said.
Loss of sense of smell may be indicative of higher risk of pneumonia for certain groups, Hindustan Times said in a report.
To ascertain whether loss of smell in COVID-19 patients could be an indication of developing pneumonia at a later stage, The Better India spoke to Dr Bharat Gopal Senior Consultant, Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj.
1. What is the significance of loss of smell in COVID-19 patients?
Dr Gopal: Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, it was reported that many people infected with the COVID-19 virus were complaining of a loss of sense of smell, even without exhibiting any other symptoms.
A study by Pierron, D. et al. in 2020 observed that self-reported changes in smell or taste were a better marker of the spread of the infection than many other indicators. So this symptom was touted as almost a surrogate marker for the RT-PCR test.
2. How many patients experience loss of smell?
Representational image
Dr Gopal: While few studies have looked into it, the number of patients who experience a loss of smell can vary from 18-40 per cent in various cases.
In one questionnaire-based study, 96 per cent of the participants had some degree of olfactory dysfunction [reduced or distorted ability to smell].
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Loss of smell (anosmia) or taste (ageusia) has been commonly reported, in a third of patients in one study, especially among women and younger or middle-aged patients.
3. What triggers loss of smell in COVID-19 patients?
Dr Gopal: Although the mechanisms are not fully understood, a team of researchers led by neuroscientists at Harvard Medical School have identified the olfactory [relating to smell] cell types in the upper nasal cavity most vulnerable to infection by SARS-CoV-2.
Surprisingly, sensory neurons that detect and transmit the sense of smell to the brain are not among the vulnerable cell types.