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Rapid Communications

Anosmia (smell failure) and dysgeusia (taste distortion) in COVID-19: it is genetic

Pages 3162-3165 | Received 27 Jan 2022, Accepted 29 Jan 2022, Published online: 11 Feb 2022
 

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a very contagious respiratory illness with has affected millions of individuals worldwide. In addition to the well-known symptoms of any respiratory virus, COVID-19 can present with anosmia (failure to smell) and dysgeusia (distortion of the sense of taste). It appears to be a genetic link to the biological mechanisms underlying COVID-19-related anosmia and dysgeusia. Significant locus in the vicinity of the UGT2A1 and UGT2A2 genes are currently considered as the main culprit of the symptoms. However, more studies are needed to delineate a clear pathophysiology.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Acknowledgments

Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.