Millions of people can suffer from smell and taste problems after being infected with COVID-19

About one in 20 people who have proved positive for COVID-19 worldwide have long - term problems of smell or taste for at least six months have discovered a new study.

The survey was compiled by a team of international experts, including some from the United Kingdom, and examined data from 18 studies involving 3,699 patients, writes Skynews, broadcast Klankosova.tv.

This survey used the design to assess how many people continue to have taste or smell problems for at least six months after being infected with COVID-19. He found that about 5.6 percent of patients suffer from sniffing failure for at least six months, while 4.4 percent have a change in taste.

15 million people may suffer loss of smell

By this month, there had been some 550 million COVID infections worldwide, which means that 15 million people may have had sniffing problems and 12 million had taste problems, the study estimated.

He added that women are less likely to recover their sense of smell and taste, and patients who suffered most at the initial infection were more likely to have long-term problems.

The loss of smell and taste has a negative effect on the quality of life by deprived of some daily satisfaction and social connection”.

“People can also experience anorexia, disgust with food, malnutrition, anxiety and depression”, the study says.