Why the symptom lingers in some people remains relatively unknown. A loss of taste and smell is sometimes caused by inflammation in the sinus cavity, which can tamp down olfactory sensitivity. For some people, these senses return a few weeks after they recover from COVID-19 for others, the return can take a few months or longer. While an inability to taste and smell is associated with many conditions (and is a side effect of some medications), we’ve seen this symptom on an especially large scale with COVID-19. Plus, we use our sense of smell not only for pleasure but also to detect danger, such as a gas leak, and to take care of our loved ones, such as figuring out whether the baby needs a new diaper. Losing your sense of taste and sense of smell is more than a mere annoyance - enjoying food is a fundamental human pleasure, so having that ability taken away can be very unsettling (and prevent us from taking in sufficient calories and nutrition).
