Loss of smell or taste has been added to the list of COVID-19 symptoms, according to the revised clinical management protocols released by the Union health ministry. The ministry listed muscle pain, diarrhea, congested nasal cavity, sputum production as COVID-19 symptoms, besides fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat and shortness of breath. "People have also complained of loss of smell [anosmia] or loss of taste [ageusia] preceding the onset of respiratory symptoms," it said.
Though it is not specific to COVID-19 as one may even suffer from loss of smell and taste when they have flu or influenza, but then it could be one of the early signs of the onset of the disease and may help in timely detection and treatment.
Earlier, the United States nodal health agency Centre for Disease Control (CDC) had added six new symptoms to the roster of the signs of COVID-19 infection. It had added chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell to the list. In addition, the CDC added, trouble in breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse and bluish face and lips were emergency warning signs for COVID-19.
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In its revised 'Clinical Management Protocols for COVID-19' released on Saturday, the health ministry said older people and immune-suppressed patients in particular may present with atypical symptoms such as fatigue, reduced alertness, reduced mobility, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, delirium, and absence of fever. According to data from the Integrated Health Information Platform and Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, the details on the signs and symptoms reported are (as on June 11): Fever (27 per cent), cough (21 per cent), sore throat (10 per cent), breathlessness (8 per cent), Weakness (7 per cent), running nose (3 per cent ) and others 24 per cent.
According to the health ministry, people infected by the novel coronavirus are the main source of infection. Direct person-to-person transmission occurs through close contact, mainly through respiratory droplets that are released when the infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
These droplets may also land on surfaces, where the virus remains viable. Infection can also occur if a person touches an infected surface and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. The median incubation period is 5.1 days (range 214 days). The precise interval during which an individual with COVID-19 is infectious is uncertain. As per the current evidence, the period of infectivity starts two days prior to onset of symptoms and lasts up to 8 days.
-Inputs from PTI