When the Nose Doesn’t Know: Identifying Types of Smell Loss in the Time of COVID

Olfactory dysfunction has become even more common during the pandemic, yet its causes range widely from COVID-19 infections to neurological problems, including Parkinson’s and brain tumors, to simple aging. In this guide to understanding the condition and counseling patients appropriately, rhinologist Jose Gurrola II, MD, covering types of smell loss, the impact on patients’ lives, when to order labs or imaging, expected recovery times for COVID patients, and therapies worth trying.