TOLEDO, Ohio — Researchers at the University of Toledo are learning more about various symptoms of COVID-19. We know there are common serious symptoms like shortness of breath and a fever, but according to researchers, that's not all.
"We've been seeing a lot of patients that are seeing changes with their sense of taste. Patients complaining they aren't tasting the food like they used to anymore," Dr. Muhammad Aziz, Chief Internal Medicine Resident at the University of Toledo, said.
Dr. Aziz and his colleagues took a look at five studies conducted between mid-January and the end of March. Of the 817 patients studied, nearly 50% experienced changes to their sense of taste. Certain data from the study also shows patients who had loss of taste--or even smell--did not show a ton of COVID-19 symptoms, if any.
"This is significant. Because if you are an asymptomatic carrier that means you are spreading the virus, which needs to be screened to prevent the spread of the virus. We also believe this 50% of this is an under-reported figure," Dr. Aziz said.
Dr. Aziz explained breakthroughs like this show how learning more about the virus can impact how we continue to navigate this pandemic, and get doctors one step closer to finding a potential treatment.