Does long covid cause loss of taste?

Taste detects basic sensations such as sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and savoury, while smell supplies much of what people experience as flavour. A change in smell can therefore feel like a loss of taste. Dry mouth, mouth or dental problems, nasal blockage, medicines, and other illnesses can also alter taste, so timing and accompanying symptoms are useful to review.

Aim for regular meals and drinks even if food is less enjoyable. Experiment with safe flavour and texture changes, such as herbs, crunchy foods, or foods served at different temperatures, while avoiding extra salt or sugar as a substitute. Check food storage dates and appearance carefully, since altered smell may make spoilage harder to notice.

Make an appointment if the change continues, causes poor intake, leads to noticeable weight change, or comes with mouth pain, white patches, dental trouble, or persistent nasal symptoms. Seek urgent medical care for sudden weakness, facial drooping, trouble speaking, severe sudden headache, or confusion. Such symptoms need prompt evaluation.

Ask whether a mouth, dental, nose, or medication review is appropriate and how to protect nutrition while flavour is altered. Tell the clinician if you have dry mouth, pain when eating, nausea, nasal congestion, or changes in smell.