COVID-19 Medical Update

By Elissa Rosen, MD, CEDS-S

Suddenly lost your sense of smell? This may actually be a symptom of COVID-19. Anosmia is the formal medical term for the loss of sense of smell. Doctors around the world have started to notice that a sudden loss of smell even in the absence of other symptoms can be a presenting symptom of COVID-19. In South Korea, for example, this symptom was present in nearly 30% of patients testing positive for COVID-19. So, if you find yourself with sudden anosmia, self-isolate and contact your health care provider who can advise you about next steps such as testing based on your location.