According to a survey by a national research group, the percentage of people in their 20s and 30s who were infected with the new coronavirus and felt an abnormality in their sense of smell was about 70%, and the percentage was higher in the younger generation.

This was revealed by a research group led by Professor Takayoshi Miwa of Kanazawa Medical University, who is investigating abnormalities in the sense of smell and taste caused by the new coronavirus.

According to this, when we conducted a questionnaire to 251 patients from asymptomatic to moderate disease from February to May, about 70% of those in their 20s and 30s answered that they had an abnormality in their sense of smell. On the other hand, about 60% of people in their 40s and less than 40% of people in their 50s showed that the younger the generation, the more abnormal their sense of smell was.



Of these, 40% said they had an abnormality even one month later.



Also, by gender, the percentage of women who felt abnormal was higher.



On the other hand, most of the people who answered that they had an abnormality in their sense of smell also answered that they had an abnormality in their taste, but when they examined the presence or absence of their taste, many of them showed normal values.



For this reason, many people who complain of abnormal taste are likely to have a "flavor disorder" in which they feel that they do not taste because they do not smell food.

Even now, after more than 200 days ... Infected people send out the pain

Kawai Akimoto (30) is still suffering from odor and taste disorders more than 200 days after the infection with the new coronavirus was confirmed in December last year.



The infection was discovered last December.



I found out that my husband who worked at the hospital was infected, and when I became a close contact and underwent a PCR test, it became positive.



My husband had a high fever and was treated at a hotel, but Mr. Akimoto was treated at home because his symptoms were mild.



However, when he ate the hot pot for lunch on December 2nd, the day after the infection was discovered, he noticed that it had no taste or smell.



Mr. Akimoto said, "Suddenly my sense of taste and smell became zero. I understand that it is spicy or hot, but I do not know the taste. I heard that the taste and smell of the new corona are impaired, so at that time I thought it would be cured. "



However, even after the medical treatment period, the symptoms did not improve, and not only was the food not delicious, but he could not taste it even if he cooked it, so he had to ask his husband to check it.



Almost two months after I couldn't understand the taste, I finally started to smell it, but it was said that everything was smelly and I ate less.



Mr. Akimoto said, "It was the hardest time to have a strange odor in the latter half of January. I really like eating rice, but I felt that all the warm foods smelled and I ate somen even though it was winter." I'm talking.



Mr. Akimoto was sending out details about that time on Twitter.



On the 52nd day when I couldn't understand the taste, in late January, I said, "I can't drink the miso soup that I made at night. I can eat rice with umeboshi, but I don't feel like it. It's hard ... "



After that, Mr. Akimoto, who was examined at the hospital, was prescribed Chinese herbs and vitamins and started taking them.



However, even after more than 200 days, I feel that my sense of smell and taste have not completely returned and I have lost the pleasure of eating and drinking.

On the 5th of this month, I posted on Twitter with a black-and-white photo of the food, "A world with and without a taste. Sometimes I feel like this. (Omitted) It's absolutely delicious, but it's bad."



Mr. Akimoto said, "My favorite beer feels like just bitter carbonic acid. I think there is a lot of food information in my daily life. It looks delicious when new products are released or when I take a walk. Even if you want to find a store or eat, it's sad that you don't know the most important information about taste. "

Professor Miwa "It may take a year or two to improve, but it is necessary to consider treatment methods."

Professor Takayoshi Miwa of Kanazawa Medical University, who is the representative of the research group that conducted the survey, said, "Although it has been said to be the initial symptom of the new corona overseas, it was not known at what rate in Japan. According to this survey, 70% of people, especially in the younger generation, have subjective symptoms and can be said to be a sign of suspicion of infection. Most people improve early, but if nerves are damaged, it will be normal by 1. It can take up to two years. Smell disorders can significantly reduce the quality of life, such as not being able to enjoy eating, so it is necessary to continue research and consider treatment methods. "