Loss of smell, taste not common virus symptoms in state

AMRITSAR: Even as the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had listed loss of smell (anosmia) and taste (ageusia) as Covid-19 symptoms, these are not common among infected persons in Punjab.

As per state health department officials, less than one percent of symptomatic patients had complained of loss of smell and taste during their early stage of infection.

“In Punjab, 75% of the Covid-19 cases being reported are asymptomatic and the remaining 25%, mostly with co-morbidities, showed the presence of common symptoms. Over 95% of symptomatic patents in Punjab are suffering from common symptoms, including fever, cough, cold and breathlessness. The other symptoms like diarrhoea, fatigue and sore throat, were also witnessed in some patients, but less than one percent complained of loss of smell and taste in the early stage of infection. The state is reporting more influenza-like Illnesses and severe acute respiratory illnesses cases,” said Punjab Covid-19 nodal officer Dr Rajesh Bhaskar.

“Even though anosmia and ageusia are less common in Punjab, people suffering from loss of smell and taste must get themselves tested for Covid-19 as early detection can help to save more people,” he added.

Head of Covid isolation ward at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Patiala, Dr Vishal Chopra said, “Most symptomatic patients admitted here suffer from fever, cough and breathlessness. However, some patients in their later stages of infection have complained of not being able to taste food. These symptoms are temporary and these senses are fully restored post-treatment.”

Dr Mandeep Singh Sandhu, who collects samples from suspected patients, said, “In the case of asymptomatic patients, few felt change of taste and loss of smell as temporary symptoms.”

THE SYMPTOMS LISTED BY ICMR

While the common listed symptoms are fever, breathlessness, cough, others are fatigue, muscle pain, mucous formation, clogged nasal cavity, sore throat, diarrhoea, loss of taste (anosmia), loss of smell (ageusia).