Loss of taste (ageusia): duration, Covid, how to treat?

"Loss of taste (ageusia): duration, Covid, how to treat?"

Ageusia is the partial or total loss of taste. The person can no longer determine the flavors of what they eat. Along with the loss of smell, this is one of the symptoms mentioned by patients with Covid-19. How long does it last ? How to treat it?

Ageusia refers to the partial or total loss of taste. This is one of the telltale symptoms of Covid-19. What are the warning signs? How long does it last? Does the sense of taste return afterwards? When to worry? With what treatments to treat it? Info.

Definition: what is ageusia?

Ageusia is a medical term that corresponds to the loss of one of the five senses: taste. It is manifested by a partial (in most cases) or total (rarer) absence of taste when we deposit a substance on our sensory cells (which are located mainly on the tongue (the taste buds) and the soft palate ). In concrete terms, a person with ageusia has great difficulty recognizing the foods they eat and perceiving their flavors. Ageusic people sometimes confide in having the impression of "chewing cardboard or paper". This is often accompanied by a loss of sense of smell (medically called anosmia). Note that this is the disease suffered by the famous food critic Charles Duchemin (played by Louis de Funès) in the film "The Wing or the Thigh".

Causes of a loss of taste

Ageusia is due to an alteration of the taste receptors on the tongue, the soft palate or/and on the wall of the pharynx. This alteration can be caused by:

Loss of taste: an evocative sign of Covid-19?

Loss of taste (with loss of smell) would also be among the symptoms mentioned by patients with Covid-19. "Even if these are preliminary data, [these symptoms] would be linked to the coronavirus," said Jérôme Salomon, Director of Health, during the March 20 update. These signs would have been reported during "mild forms of the coronavirus and rather in young subjects", he added. In this context of an epidemic, the National Union of ENT and Cervicofacial Surgery Specialists (SNORL) advises people with these symptoms to remain confined to their homes and to monitor the appearance of other symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 ( fever, cough, difficulty breathing, etc.), to call their doctor if necessary and to avoid resorting to self-medication. In the current state of affairs, it also recommends that physicians not administer "general or local corticosteroids in the face of any clinical picture involving anosmia or ageusia" as well as nose washes (they would be likely to disseminate the viral particles along the airways).

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Symptoms: how to recognize ageusia?

Ageusia is manifested by a loss of taste, partially or totally. Concretely, the person cannot recognize food or determine the flavor of what they eat: whether it is salty, sweet, sour or bitter... The loss of taste is most often associated with the loss of the smell. Ageusia can be a major source of frustration and ultimately lead to eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia as well as deficiencies (anemia).

How long does ageusia last?

The duration of the loss of taste varies from one person to another and according to the severity of the disease. To date, scientific studies have shown that ageusia lasted an average of 11 days for patients over 40 and 6 days for patients under 40.

When to worry and who to consult?

It is advisable to seek the advice of your attending physician by telephone or teleconsultation, if you notice a sudden loss of taste or smell. Especially if this loss of olfactory and taste sensations is accompanied by other symptoms (runny nose, cough, feeling of oppression in the sinuses, stuffy nose, body aches, difficulty breathing, etc.). It is not recommended to resort to self-medication "without a specialist opinion from your doctor or ENT", wishes to specify the SNORL. Only health specialists can define whether or not the patient should take a specific treatment.

What is the diagnosis?

To establish the diagnosis of ageusia, the doctor questions the patient about his history, his eating habits, his possible allergies, his possible consumption of tobacco and his possible taking of medication... Nasal breathing, oral hygiene are also checked. -dental and tongue condition to see if the lingual papillae are normal. The general practitioner can refer his patient to an ENT specialist who will be able to carry out a complete ENT examination. Additional examinations (chemical gustometry or electrogustometry) may prove necessary to determine precisely which parts of the tongue are concerned. Finally, it is sometimes necessary to carry out a neurological examination to check that there is no damage to the nerves.

Treatment: how to treat ageusia?

Treatments to relieve ageusia are possible, but limited. They are prescribed on a case-by-case basis and go through:

On the other hand, during ageusia due to the alteration of sensory cells caused by nerve damage or old age, the loss of taste can be permanent and no treatment can be effective.

Sources: Association SOS Anosmie et Agueusie / Article "Disorders of smell", BN Landis, Swiss Medical Journal 2007 / Presentation of disorders of smell and taste, Marvin P. Fried, MD, Montefiore Medical Center, The University Hospital of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, MSD.

DefinitionCausesSign of CovidSymptomsDurationWhen to worry?Diagnosis and examinationsTreatments to treat itAgeusia refers to the partial or total loss of taste. It's one...

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Symptoms and Miscellaneous Questions