SynthesisAmerican journal of otolaryngology
Onset and duration of symptoms of loss of smell/taste in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review.
Synthesis in American journal of otolaryngology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 68 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
68 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Taste loss as a distinct symptom of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Chemical senses · 2023Pooled it
- Prognosis and persistence of smell and taste dysfunction in patients with covid-19: meta-analysis with parametric cure modelling of recovery curves.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2022Pooled it
- Is loss of smell an early predictor of COVID-19 severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Archives of pharmacal research · 2021Pooled it
- COVID-19 Knowledge and Prevention Behaviors in Rural Zambia: A Qualitative Application of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2023Trial
- Intensive Olfactory Training in Post-COVID-19 Patients: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.American journal of rhinology & allergy · 2022Trial
- High association of COVID-19 severity with poor gut health score in Lebanese patients.PloS one · 2021Trial
- Possible Volumetric Changes in the Hippocampus and Olfactory Bulbs After COVID-19: A Stereological MRI Study.Viruses · 2026Article
- Long-term ocular symptoms following COVID-19 linked to immune dysregulation, dysautonomia and peripheral neuropathy.Nature communications · 2026Article
- COVID-19 infection and longitudinal changes in olfactory-related brain structures in children: analysis of ABCD study data.European journal of pediatrics · 2025Observational
- Efficacy of Platelet Rich Plasma Versus Placebo for Improvement in Olfactory Function in Adults With Olfactory Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology · 2025Article
- Functional olfactory impairment and fatigue in post-COVID-19 syndrome including ME/CFS - a longitudinal prospective observational study.Brain, behavior, & immunity - health · 2025Article
- Trajectories of Coping With Persistent Smell and Taste Dysfunction After a Covid-19 Infection-A Qualitative Interview Study.Journal of advanced nursing · 2025Article
- Concordance of Anosmia Between Household Members Affected by COVID-19 Infection.Journal of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada = Journal officiel de l'Association pour la microbiologie medicale et l'infectiologie Canada · 2025Article
- Sensing Sociality: Disruptions of Social Life When Living With Chemosensory Dysfunctions After COVID-19.Qualitative health research · 2025Article
- Significance of Neurological Manifestations and Their Association With Clinical Outcomes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Bandar Abbas, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study.Health science reports · 2025Article
- COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts on STRESS, PTSD, and Prefrontal Cortical Thickness in Pre-Pandemic Trauma Survivors.Journal of personalized medicine · 2025Article
- Histopathology of the tongue in a hamster model of COVID-19.BMC oral health · 2025Article
- Deep learning analysis of long COVID and vaccine impact in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): development of a risk calculator in a multicentric study.Frontiers in public health · 2025Observational
- Long-term self-reported symptoms and psychophysical tests in COVID-19 subjects experiencing persistent olfactory dysfunction: a 4-year follow-up study.Frontiers in neural circuits · 2025Article
- Cognitive deficits and cortical volume loss in COVID-19-related hyposmia.European journal of neurology · 2025Article
8 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThe aim of the study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to investigate the time of onset and duration of symptoms of loss of smell and taste in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
methodsTwo independent authors performed a systematic review of the Medline/PubMed, SCOPUS, COCHRANE, Lilacs and Web of Science electronic databases. The time of onset and duration of symptoms were considered primary outcomes. The sex and age of individuals, the geographical location of the study, the prevalence of symptoms, other associated symptoms, associated comorbidities, and the impact on quality of life and eating habits were considered secondary outcomes.
resultsOur search generated 17 articles. Many of the studies reported that the onset of anosmia and ageusia occurred 4 to 5 days after the manifestation of other symptoms of the infection and that these symptoms started to disappear after one week, with more significant improvements in the first two weeks.
conclusionThe present study concludes that the onset of symptoms of loss of smell and taste, associated with COVID-19, occurs 4 to 5 days after other symptoms, and that these symptoms last from 7 to 14 days. Findings, however, varied and there is therefore a need for further studies to clarify the occurrence of these symptoms. This would help to provide early diagnosis and reduce contagion by the virus.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.