Coronavirus UK: Does your face cream stink of rotting waste? It’s probably Covid!

In addition to a fever and cough, one of the main symptoms of Covid-19 is the loss of the sense of smell. In some cases, this can be the only sign that something is wrong. And the problem can persist for months after the initial illness has passed.

Anosmia, as it’s known medically, affects more than half of coronavirus patients, and most say they can’t taste anything either. But when the senses begin to recover, something worse may be in store. Many now report ‘phantom smells’ – the perception of smells that aren’t really there – and almost none of them are pleasing.

Some report a constant smell of cigarettes or rotting waste. Others say familiar comforting aromas like fresh bread have turned rancid and unbearable. The condition is called phantosmia, and doctors say its Covid-related symptoms are unlike anything they’ve seen before.

One sufferer, Berkshire charity worker Karen Thomas, recovered from Covid-19 six months ago, and has “nothing that smells like it used to.” “Perfume, aftershave and shower gel all smell like cleaning products,” says the 54-year-old.

The problem has also affected her sense of taste. She says, “My favorite wine now tastes sick, just like pineapple and soft cheeses.”

When Karen contracted Covid at her father-in-law’s funeral in March, the first thing she disappeared was her sense of smell – and food became bland and inedible.

In recent months, her senses have returned – but with a strange twist.

She says, ‘I kept asking my husband if anything was burning, and he wouldn’t have a clue what I was talking about. Recently I started to smell gasoline. ‘

And she’s not alone. A study of Covid symptoms in health professionals, to be published soon by the Global Consortium of Chemosensory Research, found that a third experienced some degree of phantosmia. For some, this may just be a burning or cooling sensation in the nose, but for others, the smells can be overwhelming.

Most people will experience a loss of smell or taste due to a cold at some point in their lives. This is partly due to the mucus that forms, as well as swelling in the throat and nose that block odors. But viruses that affect smell can also damage the tiny nerves in the nasal cavity, causing loss of sensation even after the virus leaves the body. As the nerves recover, some become stronger than others at different speeds, leading to a disturbance in the smell.

“Phantosmia is very common in upper respiratory tract infections and always starts with a loss of odor,” said Professor Carl Philpott of Norwich Medical School.

He believes Covid-related phantosmia may be more serious because the virus damages the taste buds, which work with receptors in the nose to shape our full sense of smell. He also points to early evidence to suggest that Covid can affect areas of the brain related to smell perception, leading to even more severe and long-lasting symptoms.

Anything with a scent releases a combination of molecules that stimulate different receptors in the nose, creating a unique pattern.

“A rose, for example, has 13 fragrance molecules, which are picked up by different receptors,” explains Prof. Philpott. “But if only six of those scent receptors are working, a rose doesn’t smell like a rose.”

Professor Philpott says he now has patients in his clinic almost every day complaining of phantom smells after suffering from Covid-19 – and some, like Susannah, have been suffering for more than six months.

Fortunately, there are treatments to speed up the recovery process, including a rehabilitation technique that Prof. Philpott compares to physiotherapy for the nose.

Patients are sent jars of paper infused with signature scents – such as clove, lemon, rose and eucalyptus – that they should smell twice a day. This helps stimulate the receptors, encouraging them to heal more quickly.

Prof Philpott says anyone suffering from phantosmia can also have their own training by smelling familiar scents such as coffee. “It just has to be a scent you already know well,” he adds.

While the coronavirus crisis has led to an increase in patients reporting ghostly smells, Professor Philpott says it’s nothing new.

But this won’t comfort Karen, who still mourns her loss of taste. She says, “I’ve lost two rocks since all this started – everything tastes like cardboard.”