A new study has found two lingering affects of Covid-19 infection being experienced by one in 20 people across the globe.
The survey, put together by a team of international experts, analysed 3,699 patients across 18 studies and found that long-term smell or taste issues were seen for at least six months after infection.
This new information was published in the British Medical Journal and used modelling to estimate how many people end up suffering from a change taste or smell after testing positive for the virus.
READ MORE: Researchers find likely cause of mystery child hepatitis outbreak
It found that an estimated 5.6% of patients suffer ‘smell dysfunction’ for at least six months, while 4.4% have a ‘change in taste’.
Up to July 2022, there have been around 550 million Covid infections reported across the globe, meaning that massive 15 million people may have had smell problems and 12 million had taste issues, according to the study’s estimates.
Their findings also suggest that women are less likely to get their sense of smell and taste back and anyone who suffered the most at the time of initial infection was more likely to have long-term issues.
In a linked editorial, a team of Italian academics said: "Health systems should therefore be ready to provide support to these patients who often report feeling isolated when their symptoms are overlooked by clinicians."
They went on to say that people can become “severely distressed” when they lost these important senses, and that many "only realise the importance of smell when it is lost.”
"Loss of smell and taste adversely affects quality of life by depriving those affected of several everyday pleasures and social bonds," the team wrote.
"People can also experience anorexia, food aversions, malnutrition, anxiety, and depression," they added.
They highlighted that the loss or distortion of smell - also call parosmia - can end up transforming “a pleasant odour into an unpleasant one.”
This means that "daily activities such as smelling coffee and sensing the flavour of food can become disgusting and emotionally distressing.”
READ NEXT:
Spanish cops arrest three Irish people over €2.1 million 'Rathkeale Rovers' tarmac scam
Jail, lies and Irish connection behind Michael Schumacher’s F1 debut amid rare update on condition
Cabin crew member shares Ryanair travel tip to sit together without paying for a seat
Couple buy entire French village for €26,000 after struggling to get on property ladder
Tourist in Ireland shocked at appearance of young Irish men as they 'all look the same'
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
