3 ms·

The article is literally talking about how loss of taste and smell can profoundly affect someone. It's the exact opposite of "fear hysteria." From the article

The article is literally talking about how loss of taste and smell can profoundly affect someone. It's the exact opposite of "fear hysteria." From the article: > Out of 417 patients who suffered mild to moderate forms of Covid-19 in Europe, 88% and 86% reported taste and smell dysfunctions, respectively, according to a study published in April in the European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. > Most patients said they couldn’t taste or smell even after other symptoms were gone. Preliminary data showed at least a quarter of people regained their ability to taste and smell within two weeks of other symptoms dissipating. The study said long-term data are needed to assess how long this can last in people who didn’t report an improvement. Right here it is saying that about 25% of patients recover their senses of taste and smell. That means that probably 75% do not. The article spends the entire rest of its word count on explaining the terrible effects this has on those people. Can you explain to me how that would be considered "hysteria" given how contagious this disease is? That just seems utterly dismissive of these peoples' suffering to me.

throwanem 6y ago
Those are much higher rates than I've seen quoted anywhere else. Intuitively, it seems surprising that with almost nine in ten people so affected, I should have been lucky enough not to have any loss of taste or smell at all among my own symptoms, or those of anyone I know who's also had the disease. I don't doubt for a second the suffering of those affected by anosmia, or that it can be an effect of COVID-19. But I do doubt that the anosmia rate, and especially the rate of anosmia persisting long after other symptoms subside, is as high worldwide as it was in this one quite small cohort.
mmmeff 6y ago
Thank you. As someone suffering with this disease long-term (75 days and counting) it's really nice to see someone unaffected speaking the voice of reason and compassion.

throwanem 6y ago

Those are much higher rates than I've seen quoted anywhere else. Intuitively, it seems surprising that with almost nine in ten people so affected, I should have been lucky enough not to have any loss of taste or smell at all among my own symptoms, or those of anyone I know who's also had the disease. I don't doubt for a second the suffering of those affected by anosmia, or that it can be an effect of COVID-19. But I do doubt that the anosmia rate, and especially the rate of anosmia persisting long after other symptoms subside, is as high worldwide as it was in this one quite small cohort.

mmmeff 6y ago

Thank you. As someone suffering with this disease long-term (75 days and counting) it's really nice to see someone unaffected speaking the voice of reason and compassion.