Health

Young people who suddenly lose sense of taste and smell are ‘hidden coronavirus carriers’


YOUNG people who suddenly lose their sense of smell or taste could be “hidden carriers” of coronavirus, a top expert is warning.

Currently, the only two official symptoms people are suppose to self-isolate for are if they have a new, continuous cough or a high temperature.

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 Experts say young people who suddenly lose sense of taste and smell are 'hidden coronavirus carriers'

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Experts say young people who suddenly lose sense of taste and smell are ‘hidden coronavirus carriers’Credit: Getty Images – Getty

However, ear, nose and throat specialists are now warning that people who develop loss of smell and taste – a condition known as anosmia or hyposnia (partial loss) – could be facilitating the rapid international spread of Covid-19.

It comes after the number of cases of coronavirus in the UK yesterday rose to 22,444, with the death rate standing at 1,408.

In particular, the British Rhinological Society, who study the nose and sinuses, say they have seen rising numbers of young people in the past month suffering from loss of smell or taste.

And they fear it is these people who are spreading the deadly bug – as they currently do not meet current criteria for testing or self isolation.

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British Rhinological Society President Claire Hopkins said: “I have personally seen four patients this week, all under 40, and otherwise asymptomatic except for the recent onset of anosmia — I usually see roughly no more than one a month.

“I think these patients may be some of the hitherto hidden carriers that have facilitated the rapid spread of Covid-19. Unfortunately, these patients do not meet current criteria for testing or self isolation.”

A study of international cases by the British Rhinological Society Profession and the British Association of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT UK) found a significant proportion of coronavirus patients reported losing their sense of smell, taste or both.

In Germany, two out of every three cases had anosmia while in South Korea, where testing has been more widespread, thirty percent of patients who tested positive reported anosmia as their major presenting symptom.

 The most common signs of coronavirus in confirmed cases of Covid-19 from China up to February 22, 2020

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The most common signs of coronavirus in confirmed cases of Covid-19 from China up to February 22, 2020

Ms Hopkins added: “There is already good evidence from South Korea, China and Italy that significant numbers of patients with proven Covid-19 infection have developed anosmia/hyposmia.

“In addition, there have been a rapidly growing number of reports of a significant increase in the number of patients presenting with anosmia in the absence of other symptoms – this has been widely shared on medical discussion boards by surgeons from all regions managing a high incidence of cases.

“Iran has reported a sudden increase in cases of isolated anosmia, and many colleagues from the US, France and Northern Italy have the same experience.”

ENT UK — the umbrella body representing ear, nose and throat specialists — says anyone who develops anosmia should immediately self-isolate, even if they have no other signs of the disease.

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Professor Nirmal Kumar, president of ENT, told Sky News: “In young patients, they do not have any significant symptoms such as the cough and fever, but they may have just the loss of sense of smell and taste, which suggests that these viruses are lodging in the nose.”

ENT has urged ministers to recognise loss of smell and taste as an official sign of the deadly illness and say they have told Public Health England about the apparent link.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) also said it is investigating the link between loss of smell and taste and Covid-19.

Last night, the country’s top scientist, Sir Patrick Vallance said loss of smell or taste was a feature of coronavirus.

However, he followed it up by saying that it was up to the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty – who himself is currently self-isolating after showing symptoms – to change the official diagnostics list.

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Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick, said: “The symptoms that the Chief Medical Officer has outlined – and the ones that you should self-isolate on – are a persistent new cough or fever.

“Loss of taste and smell is something that can happen with other respiratory viruses.

“It does seem to be a feature of this from what people are reporting and it is something that people should take into account as they think about their symptoms.

“I think it’s for the Chief Medical Officer to decide at what point, if any, diagnostic change takes place in terms of self-isolation.

“Those symptoms we are learning about for this disease are the ones that will get more information on over time but a new cough or fever captures the vast majority of people with this illness.”

It’s thought that losing the ability to smell or taste could be due to the virus destroying cells in the nose and throat.

Experts say it’s something people can commonly experience after having other types of coronaviruses – such as the common cold.

Prof Carl Philpott, of the Norwich Medical School at UEA, said: “Coronaviruses have previously been associated with what we refer to as post-viral olfactory loss– this is smell loss that persists after a cold.

“There are many respiratory viruses that can potentially cause problems with the smell receptors.

“So far with Covid-19, the smell loss appears to be transient but only as time elapses will we know how many people have a more permanent loss.”

US scientists also recently claimed that those with Covid-19 might also experience a tummy ache when they have the deadly bug.

A new study, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, suggests people might experience digestive issues, such as diarrhoea, when they are infected with coronavirus.

Despite this revelation, people should still be vigilant in looking out for the primary symptoms of coronavirus including a dry cough and high temperature – as Covid-19 primarily attacks the lungs and respiratory system.

Some patients may also have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose or a sore throat – but these are usually mild and begin gradually.

Loss of taste or smell could be a symptom of coronavirus





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