Does flu cause loss of taste?

Flu can temporarily change how food tastes, usually because nasal congestion reduces your sense of smell, but sudden complete loss of taste is less typical and can have other causes. What people call loss of taste is often reduced flavour: the tongue still detects basic tastes, while a blocked or inflamed nose prevents aromas from reaching smell receptors. This may make meals seem bland during influenza and improve as the illness settles.

Flu commonly brings fever, chills, tiredness, headache, body aches, cough and a sore throat. Nasal blockage or a runny nose can reduce flavour, even when the tongue itself is working normally. A complete or abrupt loss of taste, especially with a marked loss of smell, is less characteristic of flu. COVID-19 can affect smell and taste, and changes can continue after the initial infection in some people. A common cold can also dull flavour through congestion. Symptoms alone cannot identify the cause, so consider the timing, other symptoms and any local testing advice.

Rest, drink fluids and use the general measures recommended for your flu symptoms. Saline nasal drops or a saline rinse may help clear congestion; use a rinse only with sterile, distilled or previously boiled and cooled water. Avoid smoking and strong irritants, which can further affect smell. Check food temperature and texture while flavour is reduced, and take care with spoiled food because smell may not warn you. If you may have COVID-19, follow current local guidance about testing and limiting contact with others. Arrange a clinical review if the change does not improve after the respiratory illness, keeps returning, or affects eating and drinking.

Seek urgent medical help for difficulty breathing, chest pain or pressure, new confusion, unusual difficulty staying awake, fainting, or lips or skin that look blue or grey. Contact a clinician promptly if you are becoming dehydrated, cannot keep fluids down, have a worsening illness after initial improvement, or are in a higher-risk group for complications from influenza. Arrange assessment for a sudden complete loss of taste or smell, particularly after a possible exposure to COVID-19. Persistent changes may need an examination of the nose, mouth, medicines and other possible causes.

You could ask whether your pattern of taste or smell change fits nasal congestion, whether COVID-19 testing is appropriate, and how long to monitor the symptom. Tell the clinician when it began, whether you can smell normally, which flu symptoms you have, any recent exposure, and any new medicines or nasal products.