While there has been constant speculation over the apparent symptoms related to COVID, sure signs are found similar to common cold and flu. But we need to halt there and go back to what WHO claimed about in the press conference.
There are no exact claims made for this rare sickness that has spread amongst us. COVID indeed begins with showing signs of common cold, fever, headache, sore throat, etc. which, when worsens in condition, seeks immediate isolation and medical care.
The pandemic has caused so much confusion and chaos for everyone that exact mutability and danger still seems below the measuring terms. As months are passing by, and so are the cases elevating in number, there remains still very little on the part of every working official and frontline warriors to be done but provide care and promote individuals to follow prescribed guidelines.
Whenever a COVID positive case has been reported, it is visibly correct that people suffer on the part of their negligence when they confuse COVID symptoms with moderate common flu. It should be understood that COVID-19 and Flu cause symptoms that appear similar visibly, but there are specific differences aligned to it.
What is the difference?
The problem lies in the lack of knowledge prevailing amongst people where they are unable to differentiate. Although when the fever seems to take its toll on the body, the near one’s paranoia makes them reach out to a medical expert.
There is significant differentiation between loss of smell and taste experienced while suffering from COVID Virus (SARs-COV-2) and while suffering from a common lousy cold. A study published in the journal Rhinology mentioned research performed by particular smell and taste disorder experts from the University of East Anglia.
An organization, namely the Charity Fifth sense, was involved with these experts to help and find out conclusive results related to the study. Professor Philpott, a part of this organization stated after the undeniable results that,
There really do appear to be distinguishing features that set the coronavirus apart from other respiratory viruses. This is very exciting because it means that smell and taste tests could be used to discriminate between Covid-19 patients and people with a regular cold or flu
The experts claimed that earlier, a person suffering from a bad cold would be unable to detect smell but is found to be differentiating between various tastes (Bitter and sweet). In contrast to that, it is indeed true that a COVID positive patient would lose his sense of smell and taste entirely wherein he/she won’t be able to point the difference between bitter and sweet.
This moves on to reflect that the COVID virus causes taste disorder in people where they become incapable of finding out which taste is what. Professor Philpott claimed that he and the experts conducted the study on 30 participants- 10 COVID positives, 10 with a bad cold, and ten healthy people.
The experiment made three things clear to the researchers:
- COVID patients do not feel any difficulty in breathing even though they cannot smell and taste things.
- COVID positive individual does not have a runny or blocked nose.
- They lose the ability to differentiate between bitter and sweet.
The final say of the researchers threw some light on the fact that due to the virus directly affecting the brain and central nervous system, the chances are that it leads to loss of smell and taste in individuals. Professor Philpott specifically mentioned that,
Our results reflect, at least to some extent, a specific involvement at the level of the central nervous system in some COVID-19 patients
This new research and finding might help researchers develop some cure based on how the virus is affecting the body and what could be done to eradicate it.
