drrami_laent

First off, I am so happy to hear you are feeling better! Unfortunately, we do not have enough data yet to know how long it will last, but if we look at other viral illness the expectation is on the order of weeks after onset of symptoms. But it is important to share this with your doctors - it will help us monitor the condition and accumulate more data so we can better predict the outcome in cases like yours.

That's a great question. Since we are so early in the coronovirus pandemic, we don't have the data yet to know how long the anosmia will last or whether it could possibly be permanent. However a similar finding (anosmia) was noted in patient with SARS during that pandemic, and some patients had loss for up to two years.

This is such an important point - thank for bringing it up. It is absolutely possible to spread the virus even if you have absolutely no symptoms - in fact this is how it is spreading so fast in the community and why social distancing is so important. You are contagious for 14 days, so it's important to isolate from others if you think you may have it. Otherwise the only way to know is to get tested, and you can get more information on how to do so here if you are in Los Angeles, or check with your local health department.

Actually, in patients reporting anosmia it was many times the first and ONLY symptom they had. This is important as it means that they can infect others even though they themselves may not know they have it - and the virus can spread more easily in the community.

I love it! I am going to have to use that as a mnemonic for my students with your permission!! Haha.

That's a good point you make. There is a distinction between anosmia (no detection of smell at all) and hyposmia (reduction in the ability to smell) and even parosmia (change in the quality of the smell). Therefore there isn't a single substance we use to test for anosmia, as it's usually reported clinically by the patient. However, there are tests to quantify and qualify the sense of smell. One of the best studied is the UPSIT which is a smell identification test that uses difference odorants (substances) in a scratch and sniff format to obtain a score. We use that to diagnose, treat, and follow symptoms over time.