Why does long covid cause loss of taste?

Taste and smell work closely together. Food flavour depends heavily on smell travelling from the mouth to the nose, so an ongoing change in smell can make food seem bland even when the tongue can still detect sweet, salty, sour or bitter tastes. Inflammation around the nose or changes in the nerves involved in smell may contribute. Loss of Taste is a common presentation of Long COVID, but it can also follow other illnesses or have other causes.

Notice whether the change is complete or partial, whether smells are altered, and whether congestion, dry mouth or new medicines are involved. Keep meals appealing with different temperatures and textures, while checking food labels and dates because smell may not warn you that food has spoiled. Take extra care around gas, smoke and strong cleaning products. A clinician can review the timing of symptoms, your nasal passages and medicines, and discuss whether smell training is suitable.

Arrange a medical review if the change persists, is troubling your eating or weight, or begins with no clear recent infection. Seek urgent care for sudden weakness of the face or body, difficulty speaking, severe headache, confusion, chest pain, trouble breathing, or fainting. These symptoms need prompt assessment regardless of any change in taste.

Ask what else could be affecting taste, whether your sense of smell is also affected, how to protect nutrition and home safety, and which symptoms would change the plan for follow-up.