To think a lack of taste and smell from an apparent cold doesn’t need a covid test.

[Jgb12]

Just that really. Probably a silly question. Feel like I have a cold. Snotty, sneezing and congested. No fever or cough. I feel fine in myself. Been home cleaning all day and have a near normal amount
of energy - maybe a little tired but been up since 5am.

Because I’m bunged up I can’t taste or smell properly! This is always a problem when I get a cold. I have ongoing problems with my sinuses too.

First time I’ve been any kind of ill since last Christmas. I know that my cold symptoms do not need a covid test but I assume my lack of taste or smell does not either because it’s quite obviously being caused by my cold!

Aibu?

YABU that's all my DS at uni had. He tested positive.
Get a test.

I would suggest getting a test just in case. Better safe than sorry when it comes to spreading it.

Did he have very congested sinuses too? Or just lack of taste and smell on its own?

I think I would get the test just to be safe.

Thanks guys. It’s just I always lose my sense of taste with a cold. Don’t want to feel like I’m wasting a test for something which is normal for me when I get a cold 🤣

My friend has 'sinusitis' as she works in care they told her to test. It was covid. Take a test please.

You should get a test and isolate until you get the results back. It is you social responsibility.

@Sparklesocks

I think I would get the test just to be safe.

HE had exactly what he thought was a cold. It was only because his flatmate had a positive test that the uni said he should test.

My friend had a cold. Got a test when she lost her sense of smell & taste & it was positive. Plse get tested.

I've heard anecdotally from people who've had COVID that the loss of taste and smell you get with it is quite different from the loss of taste and smell with a cold: its sudden and total and happens early on as opposed to a cold where its gradual (and usually comes on at the end).

That said, I'd get a test anyway. Why wouldn't you?

Wouldn't you rather know though?

I was congested for a few days, didn't think it was covid, then I lost my taste and smell and still assumed it was my sinuses, got a test to be safe and it was covid.

Check the extended list of symptoms, sinus congestion are on there, you have one main symptom and at least 1 secondary symptom, I think you definitely need to isolate and get a test

Thanks all. I will consider a test. Just to add my sense of taste and smell hasn’t completely gone. I can still taste and smell most things. It’s just blander than usual! Just stuck my nose into my dogs dog treats and could definitely smell them! 🤮

If you can smell and taste when your nose is cleared - after blowing it or using vicks etc - then it’s more likely just a cold. It’s suspected to be a nerve issue causing the loss in covid cases, not a blockage.

But why not test and err on the side of caution anyway. It’s quick and easy if negative.

Thank you. Embarrassingly I have issues blowing
my nose. I do have problems with my sinuses and have been known in the past to lose my sense of taste and smell randomly (before covid, not happened recently). I’m going to have a hot steamy shower and see how I feel. I just feel it’s the same as any old cold I’ve had in the past. I haven’t stopped sneezing. I’ll book a test later...

Thanks all. I will consider a test. Just to add my sense of taste and smell hasn’t completely gone. I can still taste and smell most things. It’s just blander than usual! Just stuck my nose into my dogs dog treats and could definitely smell them! 🤮

I’m confused. In your first post you said you’d lost taste and smell, which is one of the 3 main symptoms and would definitely warrant a test.

Sorry OP, it just sounds like you’re looking for reasons not to get tested.

Lack of taste and smell are Covid symptoms you need testing.

@HomerRoberts nope. I said ‘lack of’ implying that it was lacking but not completely gone - maybe not the correct word. Then I said I can’t taste or smell properly. Never said it was lost completely 🙄

I’m not saying I won’t get a test. But didn’t want to feel like I was wasting resources on a symptom I always get with a cold - a cold I caught off my youngest daughter who’s been snotty this week that’s all 😀

Why wouldn't you get a test? Not a waste of resources when you have a classic symptom.

Interestingly, I had a cold 2 months ago and it turned into a loss of smell. I booked a COVID test, but family acted as if I was majorly overreacting. So I called 119 and asked 'should I be having a test with a cold but a loss of smell?'. To my utter shock I was told "no, only if you also get either a temp or a cough". I was really surprised - wasn't aware it was like bingo and you had to have multiple symptoms, or that a cold meant you didn't need to be tested. I was outright told to NOT go to my test by the operator on the other end of the call to 119.

Anyway, 3 days later it turned into a cough and I did get tested. Thankfully negative. But interesting response from 119 which totally surprised me.

My symptoms were exactly like a cold. Same kind of cough, no fever, and a loss of smell that came on gradually over 36 hours. I also have long-term sinus issues and have had complete anosmia on multiple occasions.

I would have put money on my just having a cold, but the symptom checker said take a test. 48 hours later the result was positive.

I'm not trying to alarm you, but it could well be covid. I would strongly suggest getting a test (it's really not too bad doing the swab - much better than I feared).

There seems to be so much conflicting info @annahannah. my son had a bad cold back in September. He was that congested he ended up with a bad cough. I seemed guidance from a doctor who said because his cough was obviously from his very snotty nose he didn’t need a test... and said that if there’s a runny nose it’s likely not covid but others have said different.

I did end up getting him tested anyway because he couldn’t go to school with it and it was thankfully negative as I thought!

I know someone who only had a funny taste in her mouth, she treated positive and is fine, but obviously needs to self isolate. A test is definitely needed.

I think it would help if the results of tests didn't take so long, I think it might put people off if they are waiting days or even longer for a possibly negative test

YABU. It's 2 of the 4 symptoms you're supposed to test for. It's likely a cold but could be covid. It's possible to have it and no symptoms so unfortunately it's impossible to guess.