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Four out of five people who suddenly lost their sense of smell or taste tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies, new research indicates.
The scientists behind the study say the findings suggest that an acute loss of smell or taste is a highly reliable indicator of viruses.
They say loss of smell or taste should now be considered globally as a criterion for self-isolation, testing, and contact tracing.
Researchers from UCL and UCLH (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) analyzed health data from London primary care centers.
Their results showed that 78% of the people who reported sudden loss of smell and / or taste at the height of the pandemic had COVID-19 antibodies.
And of these people, 40% did not have a cough or fever. It is the first time such a figure has been calculated, according to the researchers.
Lead author Professor Rachel Batterham, UCL Medicine and UCLH, said: “As we approach a second wave of infections, early recognition of COVID-19 symptoms by the public, coupled with rapid self-isolation and testing, will be of vital importance to limit the spread of the disease.
“While people in the UK experiencing a sudden loss of smell or taste are advised to isolate themselves and seek a test, globally few countries recognize this symptom as an indicator of COVID-19; most focus in fever and respiratory symptoms.
“Our findings show that loss of smell and taste is a highly reliable indicator that someone is likely to have COVID-19 and if we want to reduce the spread of this pandemic, governments around the world should now consider it as a criterion for self-management, isolation, testing and contact tracing. “
The researchers sent text messages to people registered at various London primary care centers who had reported a sudden loss of their sense of smell and / or taste between April 23 and May 14.
A total of 590 participants signed up through a web-based platform and answered questions about loss of smell and taste and other coronavirus-Related symptoms.
Of these, 567 had a history of their symptoms confirmed by a healthcare professional who oversaw a test to establish whether they had COVID-19 antibodies.
The study, published in PLOS Medicine, found that 77.6% of the 567 people with loss of smell and / or taste had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.
Of these, 39.8% did not have a cough or fever, and those with loss of smell were three times more likely to have antibodies, compared to those with loss of taste.
Professor Batterham added: “Our research suggests that a key public health message should be: people who notice a loss in their ability to smell everyday household odors, such as garlic, onions, coffee and perfumes, should isolate themselves and look for a PCR smear test for coronavirus. “
