Some survivors of COVID-19 claim that the virus has wreaked havoc on their sense of smell – leaving them smelling “disgusting” odors, such as fish and burnt toast.
Dr. Nirmal Kumar, who is an ear, nose and throat surgeon in the UK, said the “very strange” phenomenon among patients with recovered viruses is known as parosmia, Sky News reported.
“This morning I saw two patients with parosmia. One said he could smell fish instead of any other, and the other could smell burning when there was no smoke around, ”said Kumar.
Kumar said he noted that the strange symptom has an “increased incidence in young people and also in healthcare professionals because of exposure to the virus in hospitals”.
“” The virus is affecting the nerves in the roof of the nose – it’s like a shock to your nervous system, and the nerves aren’t working, “he said.
Daniel Salvaki, a 24-year-old London banker, said he started experiencing the peculiar symptom after losing his sense of smell and taste while battling the virus.
He said things with a strong smell, like trash cans now smell like sulfur or “like toast”.
“It has diminished my taste for food and it is a little depressing not to be able to smell certain foods,” he said.
Lynn Corbett, who works for a real estate broker in Sussex, England, said she also lost her sense of smell during the battle with the virus.
When he returned three months later, “nothing smelled like it should,” she said.
“Most things smelled disgusting, that sweet, sickening smell that is hard to describe, as I’ve never seen it before,” said the 52-year-old.
She said that although she was already addicted to coffee, she now finds the smell “unbearable”.
Gas and beer also have unbearable smells, she said.
But she said that even though her nose doesn’t return, she is grateful to have survived the virus.
“I’m fine with that, I just think I’m lucky that if I had coronavirus, which it seems I did, then I wasn’t seriously ill, hospitalized or died like so many others,” she said.