UK coronavirus tests advised for people who lose taste or smell

[helvella]

A change in UK guidance has just been reported.

UK coronavirus tests advised for people who lose taste or smell

Anosmia is third symptom - in addition to cough and fever - justifying a test under revised guidance

People who experience a loss of smell or taste are being advised to get tested for Covid-19, in a change of guidance from the UK government that experts say is well overdue.

Anosmia – the medical term for loss of smell – is now the third symptom of the coronavirus infection that will justify a test, in addition to a persistent cough and high temperature. The four chief medical officers of the UK have said that both loss of smell and loss of taste should now trigger a test even without the other symptoms.

England’s deputy chief medical officer, Jonathan Van-Tam, said the government’s scientific advisory group, NERVTAG, began looking at the data on 27 March. However, Prof Tim Spector from King’s College London, who has been collecting data on symptoms reported by millions of people in the UK who downloaded its app, said as early as 1 April that people who lost their sense of smell or taste should self-isolate.

NERVTAG’s research showed that between 24 and 29 March, 59% of users who tested positive for Covid-19 experienced loss of smell and taste compared with 18% of those who tested negative.

“When combined with other symptoms, people with loss of smell and taste appear to be three times more likely to have contracted Covid-19 according to our data, and should therefore self-isolate for seven days to reduce the spread of the disease,” he said at the time.

Rest of article freely accessible here:

theguardian.com/world/2020/...

[humanbean]

I have no chance with this. My sense of smell used to be very acute but over the last 10 years or so I've lost nearly all of it. My sense of taste is now very poor too.

So if I got Covid-19 I am very unlikely to notice a difference.

[Cooper27]

I need to stop burning my tongue on hot soup so I can tell I've lost my sense of taste

[TSH110]

About time. I know someone who lost their sense of smell, called 111 and was told it was not a symptom of CV19 and not a valid reason to self isolate/get a sick note for work. They ended up in ITU after testing positive for it, no doubt super spreading it in the interim. No cough ever materialised, symptoms were serious neurological ones, none on the official list . They have recovered now... up to a point ... they have been told they must not work for three months.

[Treepie]

Not including Anosmia was mentioned in Dr.Kendrick’s last blog.

[jgelliss]

Helvella great post . I lost my taste and smell sense back in the beginning of March . Back then very little mention was made of COVID-19. I experiences sore throat , dry cough attacks to the point that I couldn't catch my breath, no energy nor care no appetite. I was tested for COVID-19 and came back positive . Nutrients that I found to be very helpful was e.g. vitamin "D", "C" Zinc, Selenium , NAC . Being optimally dosed with thyroid meds is very important too.

Stay Well And Safe .

[Zephyrbear]

Not much use, I’m afraid, if you suffer from any long term sinus or nasal polyps condition as I do... I haven’t been able to smell or taste anything for years! 😒

[Lora7again]

I had loss of taste and smell when my thyroid levels were very low and I was untreated. All the food I ate was bland and unappealing. Now my taste and smell have returned and I can actually taste chili which I would not before and I could a extremely hot curry and not realise how spicy it was. There are other causes for loss of taste and smell so I hope they make sure before giving someone a wrong diagnosis.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Lora7again]

At least in theory, with loss of smell and taste being "official" symptoms, PLUS testing being theoretically available to everyone over five years old with symptoms, we might see accurate diagnosis.

I think many other possible causes, including (for many) thyroid hormone levels, would tend to see the loss happen slowly over months or even years.