Isolated loss of smell (LOS)
Patients with COVID infection
- LOS less than three months:
- The patient may be managed by their GP.
- Anosmia advice sheets provided and treatment discussed (smell
training and optional treatments outlined below)
- LOS more than three months:
- ENT referral.
- Remote ENT consultation should be offered initially instead of a
face-to-face consultation.
Patients with no COVID infection
- LOS more than 4-6 weeks:
- ENT referral.
- Remote ENT consultation may be offered instead of a face-to-face
consultation.
- LOS more than 3 months:
- ENT referral.
- A face-to-face ENT consultation should be considered to exclude
other pathologies.
Patients with unknown COVID status
If the COVID status is unknown, serology should be performed for all
patients with new onset smell loss.
If results unavailable, treat the patient as COVID positive if sudden
onset loss of sense of smell