Other causes of taste and smell disturbance include: In some cases, like after having radiation treatment, your taste buds may be affected. Many people actually notice the loss of taste first. That’s because smell contributes so much to taste that when the olfactory cells aren’t working properly, you have a hard time tasting food. Most people who think they’ve lost taste have actually just lost smell. Normal aging can cause diminished sense of taste and smell, because of a decline in overall brain density and function. There are theories that COVID-19 might damage these nerves, or damage your mucosa (a lining in your nose that helps your nose sense odors). Long-term loss of taste and smell can be from the olfactory cells or certain nerves that have been damaged through trauma to the head or skull (such as a concussion). The inflammation prevents smells and odors from reaching the very top of the nasal passages, where olfactory cells, which sense smell, are located. It can also be caused by other illnesses and structural problems.Ī temporary loss of taste and smell can be caused by an obstruction in the nose, like if you have inflammation (causing a stuffy nose) from allergies or a cold or flu. A loss of sense of smell and taste is a common symptom of COVID-19, and one that often lingers after people recover from the illness.
