

medications, such as drugs prescribed for high blood pressure or infections.nasal polyps, or small growths in the nose or sinuses.Other viruses can cause the loss of taste and smell, including:Īdditional factors that cause the loss of taste and smell include: Learn more about loss of taste and smell with COVID-19. Less than 25% of people who get the Omicron variant also lose their sense of smell. This is because the body detects the flavor of food and drink through smell and taste.ĬOVID-19 variants differ in how frequently they affect taste and smell. If a person experiences a loss of smell in this way, their taste is also usually affected. Scientists believe that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that leads to COVID-19, causes the loss of smell and taste by suppressing the smell receptors in the nose that detect odors and the nerve impulses that transmit information about odors to the brain.

The most common causes of the loss of taste and smell are sinus and nasal diseases, viruses, and trauma to the nasal area. Share on Pinterest Cécile Fourcade/Stocksy
