Parosmia—a common consequence of covid-19
BMJ 2022; 377 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2021-069860 (Published 27 April 2022) Cite this as: BMJ 2022;377:e069860
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Dear Editor
After reviewing the article published in the BMJ: Parosmia—a common consequence of covid-19, we wish to express our considerations on this interesting topic.
The existence of olfactory alterations in upper respiratory tract infections is not surprising, and it is known that there is an obstructive-type alteration, which resolves when the rest of the acute symptoms do. In some cases, postviral neurosensory-type olfactory dysfunction may appear that takes weeks or months to disappear. In patients with COVID-19, anosmia seems to be a common symptom, although the limitations in the available evidence make decision-making difficult at the clinical level, and highlight the need to reliably collect data about these symptoms.
One of the first warning signs of Covid-19 disease in many cases is loss of taste and smell. Most patients recover, but some report that they later experience a new unpleasant symptom called parosmia. This is a condition where otherwise normal odors now smell unpleasant or even disgusting.
Although many cases of this coronavirus-associated olfactory distortion have been reported since the start of the pandemic, the disorder was considered to affect mainly adults, while children were often left in the shade because of how easy it is to confuse the symptoms of coronavirus parosmia with a childish whim.
We consider it interesting to report this symptom, apparently not frequently described in other diseases, to document its existence and keep it in mind along with other olfactory alterations as care and follow-up continue to be provided to patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.
References
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Competing interests: No competing interests
Dear Editor
Parosmia is a common 'sequelae'. Even Homer nods.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Should acupuncture be suggested for parosmia after covid-19 infection?
Dear Editor
We wish to respond to the concise care and advice for patients in Practice Pointer (28 May) and draw attention to our peer-reviewed letter published in Acupuncture in Medicine describing the use of acupuncture to restore loss of smell and taste that had persisted for 18 months in a post-viral patient [1].
In our case report, the patient certainly found that the loss of smell and taste affected wellbeing and mental health and, having exhausted all investigations available to the NHS and olfactory training, resorted to acupuncture. Other workers report successful acupuncture treatment of patients with olfactory loss, including PVOD which may or may not be due to covid-19 infection (as referenced in our letter). With no proven medical treatments we think it could be helpful to patients to suggest trying acupuncture. Unfortunately due to the restrictions incurred by the pandemic we have been unable to carry out any trials but believe acupuncture to be worthy of further investigation.
1. Hunter JEB, Phillips ME, Walker FDL, Busby D. Post-viral olfactory dysfunction treated with acupuncture https://doi.org/10.1177/09645284211026315
Volume 39, Issue 6 of Acupuncture in Medicine 2021).
Competing interests: No competing interests