The sudden loss of smell and taste, especially in the absence of a cold or allergic signs, could be linked to Covid-19. This is demonstrated by a study conducted by British researchers from King's College and based on data collected via a symptom tracking application. Almost 60% of patients , who were later detected as carriers of the coronavirus, indeed indicated that they had lost their senses of smell and taste.
In comparison, 18% of patients who said they had lost taste and smell tested negative. Results published online this Wednesday 1
st
April which however has not yet been peer-reviewed.
Of the app's 1.5 million users between March 24 and March 29, 26% reported one or more symptoms through the app. Of these, 1,702 also indicated that they had been tested for coronavirus – 579 tests were positive, and 1,123 negative.
With all the data collected, the research team developed a mathematical model to identify which combination of symptoms – loss of smell, loss of taste, fever, persistent cough, diarrhea, fatigue… – was the most accurate in determining a case of infection.
"When this is combined with other symptoms, it appears that people with loss of smell and taste are three times more likely to have contracted Covid-19 according to our data, and therefore should self-isolate for seven days to reduce the spread of disease “, thus indicated Tim Spector, the professor in charge of the study.
