The Bittersweet Taste of COVID-19: A Deeper Look into its Effects on Our Senses

As a medical student constantly bombarded with textbooks thicker than the Earth's crust (don't quote me on that), it's a sweet delight to escape from the labyrinth of medical jargon and speak plain ol' English. So, sit back, grab your hot coffee or cold kombucha, and let's embark on this sensory journey with COVID-19.

COVID-19 and the Stolen Senses

2021 will forever be etched in our memories as a unique year where COVID-19 continued to gatecrash our global party. Here's a funky little fact: of the 35.8 million US adults diagnosed with this uninvited guest, a whopping 60.5% and 58.2% reported losses in smell and taste, respectively. Now that's what I call a party spoiler!

Let's put this into perspective. Imagine not being able to smell your morning coffee, or taste the heavenly goodness of grandma's secret apple pie. Gasp! How can we survive in a world where our very senses have gone on vacation? In the wise words of Friedrich Nietzsche, "That which does not kill us, makes us stronger." Perhaps this applies to our recovering senses too?

##The Symphony of Severity

As with many things in life (and medical textbooks), it's all about the severity. The study found that the severity of the COVID-19 symptoms significantly impacted both smell and taste disturbances. In simple terms, the harder COVID-19 partied in your system, the more likely your senses of smell and taste would lose their groove.

##The Return Journey of the Senses

But hey, it's not all doom and gloom! The recovery statistics are fascinatingly positive. Of the affected patients, 72.2% reported complete smell recovery and 76.8% regained their sense of taste fully. Partial recovery wasn't far behind, with 24.1% for smell and 20.6% for taste. Unfortunately, the lingering 3.7% and 2.6% respectively didn't smell the roses or taste victory.

There's a catch though; the severity of overall symptoms played spoilsport again. Those with more severe symptoms were less likely to experience a full sensory homecoming. It seems the harder COVID-19 rocked the sensory boat, the more challenging the recovery process.

##The Bigger Picture

It's vital to connect the dots and see how this study impacts us on a grander scale. Drawing parallels with research from other countries, it appears that sensory dysfunctions following COVID-19 are a universal pandemic problem. This aligns with data from the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research (GCCR), suggesting that COVID-19 has a significant effect on smell and taste globally.

Moreover, these findings echo the sentiments of psychologist Abraham Maslow who once stated, "What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself." This study urges healthcare providers to be aware and proactive in managing patients' COVID-19 symptoms to prevent lasting sensory damage.

##Wrap Up

The significant takeaway from this study is that the majority of COVID-19 patients do experience sensory disturbances, but recovery is hopeful. This isn't just a sneaky virus that gives you a fever and a cough. It's like a sneaky cat burglar stealing away our senses.

So here's to hoping that ongoing research unravels more about this mysterious virus and devises strategies to lessen the overall symptom burden. Because let's face it, nobody wants to live in a world without tasting apple pie or smelling coffee, right?

And on that note, I'm off to appreciate the aroma of my freshly brewed coffee. Because who knows, the next pandemic might be coming for our sense of touch. And I don't know about you, but I'd like to hold on to my senses. After all, the ability to feel, to taste, to smell - isn't that what makes us human?