A change in your sense of smell can be unpleasant and affect how things taste. But it isn't usually serious and may get better in a few weeks or months.

Coronavirus A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste could be coronavirus (COVID-19). Get advice about coronavirus symptoms and what to do

Causes of lost or changed sense of smell Changes in sense of smell are most often caused by: a cold or flu

sinusitis (sinus infection)

an allergy, like hay fever

growths in your nose (nasal polyps) These can cause: loss of smell (anosmia)

smelling things that are not there (phantosmia), like smoke or burnt toast

reduced sense of smell (hyposmia)

the smell of things to change (parosmia) Information: It's also common to lose some of your sense of smell as you get older.

Cleaning inside your nose can help Rinsing the inside of your nose with a salt water solution may help if your sense of smell is affected by an infection or allergy. You can make a salt water solution at home. How to clean your nose with a salt water solution Boil a pint of water, then leave it to cool. Mix a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) into the water. Wash your hands. Stand over a sink, cup the palm of 1 hand and pour a small amount of the solution into it. Sniff some of the solution up 1 nostril at a time and let it run out of your nose. It might help to hold your other nostril closed with your finger as you sniff. Repeat these steps a few times to see if it helps. You don't need to use all of the solution, but make a fresh batch each day – don't reuse any left over from the day before. Some pharmacies sell sachets you can use to make a salt water solution and devices to help you rinse your nose. Information: Call your pharmacy or contact them online before going in person. You can get medicines delivered or ask someone to collect them. Find a pharmacy

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if your sense of smell doesn't go back to normal in a few weeks They'll check for any obvious causes, such as sinusitis or nasal polyps. They may refer you to a specialist for tests if they're not sure what the problem is. Information: Coronavirus update: how to contact a GP It's still important to get help from a GP if you need it. To contact your GP surgery: visit their website

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