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Covid Variant Returns: Loss of Taste & Smell Grips Kolkata
24 Aug
Summary
- A milder Covid variant causes lingering loss of taste and smell.
- Symptoms are generally benign, unlike previous pandemic waves.
- Support cells, not neurons, are targeted by the virus.
A milder Covid variant is currently circulating in Kolkata, affecting hundreds with symptoms generally less severe than previous pandemic waves. However, a significant and concerning symptom reported by many patients is a loss of taste and smell, which can persist for three to five days. Other symptoms, such as fever and cough, have been relatively mild.
Hospitalizations have occurred, primarily involving children and the elderly, but their cases have been mild. Doctors at Charnock Hospital noted symptoms similar to Omicron, including respiratory distress and congestion, with some patients requiring oxygen support but recovering within a week. Patients with pre-existing lung conditions appear more susceptible to severe sensory loss.
Experts from RN Tagore Hospital suggest this is a mild, endemic strain causing simple respiratory symptoms. The mechanism behind the loss of smell involves the virus attacking sustentacular cells in the nasal cavity, which support olfactory sensory neurons. These support cells, lacking ACE2 receptors, are targeted by SARS-CoV-2, leading to inflammation and temporary dormancy of neurons, with smell typically returning as support cells regenerate.
