Olfaction has not recovered two months after recovering from COVID-19
Jun 05, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Xu Gang
Introduction
In general, if the sense of smell has not recovered within two months after recovering from COVID-19, it may be due to factors such as rhinitis, sinusitis, or involvement of the olfactory nerves, or possibly due to nasal mucosal injury, nasal swelling, or chronic olfactory decline. Specific causes should be evaluated through appropriate medical examinations at a hospital, and treatment should follow medical advice. Prompt medical consultation is recommended to avoid delaying diagnosis and treatment.
Generally, if a person has not recovered their sense of smell two months after recovering from COVID-19, it may be due to factors such as rhinitis, sinusitis, or olfactory nerve involvement. Patients should seek symptomatic treatment under the guidance of a physician. Specific analyses are as follows:
1. Rhinitis
During COVID-19 infection, viral infection can cause inflammation of the nasal mucosa, manifesting as nasal congestion, nasal itching, sneezing, runny nose, reduced sense of smell, headache, and even loss of smell. In such cases, medications such as ribavirin tablets or rhinitis ling tablets may be prescribed by a doctor for treatment.
2. Sinusitis
During COVID-19, pathogens may infect the sinus mucosa and lead to sinusitis. Impaired sinus ventilation and drainage, along with disruption of mucociliary clearance function, form the basis of this condition, which may result in persistent loss of smell. In such cases, antibiotics such as amoxicillin capsules or cefalexin capsules may be prescribed by a doctor for treatment.
3. Olfactory Nerve Involvement
The SARS-CoV-2 virus may invade the olfactory nerves, causing degeneration and dysfunction of olfactory nerve cells. In severe cases, the sense of smell may not fully recover. Under medical supervision, drugs such as mecobalamin tablets or mometasone furoate nasal spray may be used for treatment.
Besides these three common causes, prolonged loss of smell could also result from nasal mucosal injury, nasal swelling, or chronic olfactory decline. A thorough evaluation at a hospital is necessary to determine the exact cause, and patients should follow medical advice and seek timely treatment to avoid disease progression.
