smell loss 'different from cold and flu'

The loss of smell that can accompany coronavirus is unique and different from that experienced by someone with a bad cold or flu, say European researchers who have studied the experiences of patients.  When Covid-19 patients have smell loss it tends to be sudden and severe.  And they usually don't have a blocked, stuffy or runny nose - most people with coronavirus can still breathe freely.  Another thing that sets them apart is their "true" loss of taste.  It's not that their taste is somewhat impaired because their sense of smell is out of action, say the researchers in the journal Rhinology. Coronavirus patients with loss of taste really cannot tell the difference between bitter or sweet.  Experts suspect this is because the pandemic virus affects the nerve cells directly involved with smell and taste sensation.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53810610

Its like the old music hall joke.

Chap 1:  I say, I say, I say, my dog has no nose.

Chap 2:  How does he smell?

Chap 1:  Awful.

Although the mortality rate for this virus is not a world shaker, it seems to leave a whole lot of long term health problems in its wake, so I am wondering if the a large part of the cost is going to be related to dealing with long term issues (like increased rates of diabeties 1 in children - see another thread for this) --- all the more reason to be careful to try and avoid it.

I don't know, Edwin, I'm pretty impressed by a 3.5% death rate...right up there with, and exceeding, Spanish Influenza!I

But I certainly agree with you that most of our trouble and expense will come post-pandemic, dealing with people who will be disabled or hobbled in some way, by this disease.  And I think that a lot of the fallout will take 20+ years to unfold, and may very well be missed as caused by/related to this virus for quite some time. 

And Carbon, there's no doubt in my mind that this virus affects the part of the brain that controls smell and taste AND the nerves.  And probably a lot more of the body than that...

This virus is a ticking time bomb.  With some people the fuse is short, others long.  But it's ticking...

hoosiermom, do you now notice your taste has changed in any way?