Doctors Seeing Oklahomans Suffering From 'Long-Haul Syndrome' After Recovering From COVID-19

A coalition of Oklahoma doctors and healthcare leaders said they continue to see Oklahomans suffering from long-haul syndrome after recovering from COVID-19.

This means people who continue to suffer from symptoms months after contracting the virus; and this can include inflammation of the heart and a prolonged loss of taste and smell.

Dr. Ed Boyd is an ear, nose and throat doctor in Muskogee and said COVID-19 can cause nerve damage at the base of the nose, and some patients wait months before that nerve regenerates.

"Unfortunately there is no specific medical treatment for the parosmia. You just need to wait for the nerve regeneration,” said Boyd. “There is a lot of research going on to olfactory or smell training."

Boyd said patients should see their primary doctor if the loss of taste and smell persists for a long time.