Among the sometimes persistent symptoms of Covid-19, we find la parosmie, an alteration of taste and smell which can, for example, give the water the taste of rotten eggs. For the 250,000 adults and many children affected by this symptom in England, eating and daily life can quickly become particularly unpleasant experiences, to the point that some children stop eating, reports Bloomberg relayed by Capital Monday, January 24, 2022.
To better understand the consequences of parosmia, smell experts from the University of East Anglia and the smell and taste disorder charity Fifth Sense worked to produce a guide for parents of children living with this disorder. In this guide, the specialists first note that it is often difficult for parents to obtain a diagnosis, some health professionals preferring to believe in a whim of the child.
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Parents of children experiencing parosmia are seeking support and understanding. Read our response by clicking the link provided: https://t.co/Mj2MDEYUfd#fifthsense #taste #alltheosmias #parosmia@uniofeastanglia @UEAResearch pic.twitter.com/ataAgyh2ZV
— Fifth Sense (@FifthSenseUK) January 18, 2022
Finding the Least Trigger Foods
In the case of parosmia, researchers advise parents to look for foods that would be least affected by their child’s disorder. These are frequently products that are already naturally weak in taste, such as pasta or bananas. “Vitamin flavored or unflavored vitamin drinks can also help kids get the nutrients they need” noted Professor Carl Philpott, of UEA’s Norwich Medical School. Conversely, it is worth noting the trigger foods, which are often onions, garlic, cooking meat or coffee.
For odors, it is suggested in the short term to use a nose clip or hold your nose during meals. Finally, over the longer term, people suffering from parosmia can try to re-educate their sense of smell over several months by training twice a day to smell four different smells.
