Can RSV cause loss of smell?

RSV often causes cold-like upper-airway symptoms, including a blocked or runny nose. Congestion can make smells seem faint because air cannot reach the smell-sensing area normally. A reduced sense of smell can also occur with [Common Cold](/conditions/common-cold/), [Allergic Rhinitis](/conditions/allergic-rhinitis/), or [Chronic Sinusitis](/conditions/chronic-sinusitis/). A sudden or marked change may have another cause, including [COVID-19](/conditions/covid-19/), so the timing and accompanying symptoms matter.

Rest, drink fluids, and use gentle saline nasal rinsing if it is suitable for you. Avoid inserting objects into the nose and do not use decongestant sprays longer than the product instructions allow. Keep away from smoke and strong irritants. Notice whether smell improves as the congestion settles, and record changes in taste, nasal blockage, facial pressure, or fever.

Arrange a review if smell remains reduced after the respiratory illness has settled, keeps returning, or occurs with persistent facial pain, one-sided blockage, repeated nosebleeds, or vision changes. Seek urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, confusion, swelling around an eye, or a sudden neurological symptom. Persistent symptoms after COVID-19 may need assessment for [Long COVID](/conditions/long-covid/).

Tell your clinician when the change began and whether congestion, allergies, a recent infection, or a head injury came first. Ask whether you need a nasal examination, testing for an infection, or advice about [Loss of Smell](/symptoms/loss-of-smell/).