MSN: One symptom that predicts how bad your coronavirus case will be

UC researcher says the nose offers a clue by the third day of infection

Ahmad Sedaghat, MD, PhD, found in a study of 103 Swiss patients diagnosed with COVID-19, patients were most likely to show loss of a sense of smell by the third day of infection with the novel virus. Most patients also experienced a loss of the sense of taste.

Sedaghat, an associate professor in the UC College of Medicine’s Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and an UC Health physician specializing in diseases of the nose and sinuses, said at least 61 percent of patients reported reduced or loss sense of smell. The mean onset for reduction or loss in the sense of smell was 3.4 days.

The findings were picked up by various national and international media outlets including The Economic Times, MSN, The Times of India, and Spectrum News (starts at 9:17).

Read more about the research online.

Related Stories

1

How safe is nuclear power proposed for Kentucky?

November 12, 2026

An expert in nuclear energy at the University of Cincinnati helped provide context to listeners of WVXU during a discussion about a nuclear power plant complex proposed along the Ohio River in Eastern Kentucky.

2

Cincinnati Stride event to help young people who stutter build confidence

November 12, 2026

For children who stutter, speaking can sometimes be frustrating, anxiety-inducing and a source of low confidence. The University of Cincinnati is a host of Cincinnati Stride, formerly Fluency Friday, which gives kids a chance to connect with others who understand what they're going through. Event organizers recently appeared on both WLWT-TV and WKRC-TV to raise awareness ahead of the free workshop.