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THE SUDDEN LOSS of taste and smell is to be added to the list of symptoms of Covid-19, the Department of Health has confirmed.
The loss of sense of taste, smell or both is known as anosmia and last week it was added to the list of coronavirus symptoms by health authorities in the UK.
Speaking at a briefing this evening, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan said anosmia has been reported “as a clear feature of this disease” and that the European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) is expected to issue guidance on it tomorrow.
When this guidance is issued, the Department of Health will add it to the list of symptoms.
“It’s now a well-described phenomenon internationally, which is why we expect the ECDC to include it in this case definition advice tomorrow,” he said.
Holohan said there have been reports of anosmia potentially related to Covid-19 in this country but that he couldn’t put an exact figure on the number.
We do know from anecdotal reports that there have been reports of this symptom in this country, but because we haven’t tracked it, we have identified it as part of the case definition, I couldn’t give you numbers on that.
The HSE website lists a number of symptoms of Covid-19, including a cough, a fever and shortness of breath. It advises people with symptoms to self-isolate.
The loss of a sense of taste or smell has been identified as far back as late March by researchers as a symptom of Covid-19.
Holohan said Irish health experts were aware of this research but that they were awaiting formal guidance from the ECDC.
We were aware that some, particularly the UK, made this change a week ago but first of all we didn’t have ECDC guidance that suggested this particular change in the way that we’re anticipating tomorrow. But second of all, that was the week in which we were introducing testing of contacts as a new arrangement, which as I said very few countries have got in place.
“And we were communicating that to GPs and we think it’s important that in making changes, we don’t do a lot of changes all at the same time and create confusion,” he said.
Asked whether people who experience anosmia should contact a GP, Holohan said they should:
“If you’re worried about your symptoms, we’d encourage you to make contact with your GP and to do that early in the course of your symptoms. We think we can make important gains in early identification of cases and then subsequent contacts by you as an individual reporting your symptoms early.”
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They move at some pace, I reported these symptoms,along with a cough nine/ten weeks ago ,was told I didn’t have enough symptoms to be tested . Our country is going bankrupt, and the people who can’t run our health service ,are given free rein. May God help us !
Symptoms also include, Believing everything the media frighten you with, Wake up.
This was my first symptom. 100% of taste and smell for a week before other symptoms. Also the last symptom to recover.
@Dan Moran: 100% loss of taste and smell I meant to say
@Dan Moran: how did you test it? Just so we know! Like did you try to smell/taste something strong and you couldn’t get anything at all from it?
@Glammymammy: you can’t taste anything. A work colleague microwaved some fish and everyone was going mad … I couldn’t smell it at all
@Glammymammy: you’ll get a dose of the brown dog barking at the back door too…. you’ll know…..
@Glammymammy: yep.. I put things like deep heat and vix directly under my nose. Looked like a mad eejit I’d say. I sprayed towels with lynx and perfume..nothing . Tried all strong foods I could think of. 0 smell or taste of anything. Mad a concoction of lemon juice salt pepper and had that out of pure frustration. Nada! Saved money on take aways tho:)
@Jen Gordon: I drank milk that was gone off and I didn’t notice. Mad stuff
@Glammymammy: I lost my sense of smell for around a fortnight a few years ago after a bad vomiting bug, it was one of the strangest, unpleasant and for me frightening (it was sudden and I didn’t know if it would return) sensations . There is definitely no mistaking it, even things you wouldn’t usually notice the smell of, you immediately perceive their absence.
Oh the symptoms that have been recognised by other countries for months? What happened there Tony?
@Jesus Christ: Well, Simon Harris also introduced just now that a form has to be filled out if you want to enter the country while other countries are already lifting that requirement.
I would assume that they are just getting old newspapers cheaper.
@Jesus Christ: nothing’s happening, we’re the most transparent and honest of countries and we’re the only ones doing everything right compared to everyone else.
@Jesus Christ: maybe because they have a sample size high enough and this symptom appeared enough for them to make a CLINICAL DECISION BASED ON MEDICAL EVIDENCE. Maybe. Just freaking maybe.
@David Clements: That must be mean countries if they don’t let him look…
That was already in the media 2 months ago. I’m wondering how this works. The media is already releasing something…. was that not a confirmed sympton, are we slow or needed the official workflow more clarity on this item?
Is there anything that isn’t a symptom anymore
@You can call me anything but: farting?
I’m convinced i had this in December…
Some people lost the sense of taste long before covid-19.
But that’s none of my business.
They need to test Leo. That shirtless picnic was pretty tasteless.
This is no use, a lot of people think they have taste but they actually don’t! – said Brenda from Clontarf.
I’ve just taken off my socks after a round of golf so I’m fine.
No taste or smell . ?? Maybe that’s why McDonald’s was so busy…
No taste, bad news for fans of rorys stories
A lot have no sense of smell at best of times try been on a 27 bus
@nelliekel: presume you mean ‘being’!
Smell the bull###
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