Smell and taste changes following a virus, including Covid-19, 24 June 2024

Mags Robinson is joined by Guest Speaker Mr. Okechukwu Okonkwo and Expert Patients Hannah Martin and Jenny Thomas.
Mr Okonkwo is an ENT surgeon with a special interest in smell and taste disorders. He runs a specialist NHS Smell and Taste Disorders clinic at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. His NHS clinic accepts referrals from the wider Gloucestershire area only.
Hannah lost her sense of smell in 2011 after contracting a cold, laryngitis and sinusitis. Unfortunately, it has never returned. Jenny has been living with very distressing distortions to her sense of smell since January 2021 when, following a period of smell loss, her sense of smell began to return. The cause of her smell changes has not been determined.
Hannah and Jenny share their personal stories and talk about the impact of these ongoing smell changes on their quality of life. They also share their insight, tips and some of the coping strategies they have found helpful.
Mr Okonkwo explains post-viral smell and taste changes, diagnosis and patient management options, including current and potential future treatments. He also suggests some self-help ideas for patients.
The presentations are followed by a Q&A with Mr Okonkwo.
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Fifth Sense is the charity for people affected by smell and taste disorders. Our vision is to transform society’s understanding of the importance of the senses of smell and taste, and through doing so, transform the lives of those affected by smell and taste disorders.
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We forgot to spotlight the speakers for this event, so apologies if this detracts from the presentation. We'll try to remember to do this for our future events for patients and professionals. The Fifth Sense Team.

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Vitamin A drops update: Please note, in this recording Mr Oke Okonkwo shares the advice he gives his patients about vitamin A drops and references the APOLLO trial. Professor Carl Philpott, our Director of Research and Medical Affairs has confirmed that, until the results of the APOLLO trial are out, patients should consult with a doctor before using vitamin A drops. Furthermore, the supplies of the right kind of vitamin A drops are non-existent globally at present. We will update this page on our website when the trial, which is now coming to an end, is complete and the results are out: www.fifthsense.org.uk/the-apollo-vitamin-a-trial/
Best wishes,
The Fifth Sense Team.