Sudden Loss of Taste Without a Cold — What It Indicates

April 12, 2025

Sudden Loss of Taste Without a Cold — What It Indicates

Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
12 April, 2025

The ability to taste is probably a huge favourite among the 5 treasured senses, as a person is able to understand how food tastes, its texture and if it is something that needs to be eaten or should be thrown away. Most of you may have noticed a slight change in how something tastes when you have the flu. With COVID however, it became common to see ageusia – the loss of taste as a hallmark symptom, along with loss of smell (anosmia) respectively. This loss of taste mainly happens due to the death or shedding of taste buds or receptor cells found all over the tongue, but other conditions can cause these symptoms. These cells grow back in about a couple weeks. This condition is related to similar conditions called dysgeusia (where everything tastes bad) or hypogeusia (where the intensity of a taste is greatly reduced). This is a condition that affects older folk and is not very common in young people.

Causes Of Sudden Loss Of Taste Without A Cold Or Illness-

As mentioned above, ageusia may be due to loss of taste bud cells or they may be alright, but the nerves are not able to send the right message to the brain- leading to tastelessness in either cases. But, the other conditions that can cause this condition include-

The well known common cold, COVID-19 and related viral infections
Strep throat and infections of the salivary glands
If someone has dry mouth, gum disease or an inflamed tongue, they may have issues with taste
Chronic conditions that cause neuropathy can also cause this issue- like diabetes, Alzzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke
Lastly, nutritional deficiencies can also cause symptoms- mainly Vitamin B12 and zinc deficiency.
Even drugs can cause ageusia as a side effect- like antibiotics, antifungals, chemotherapy drugs, antihistamines, antiseizure drugs etc., though this list is much longer.

Is Sudden Loss Of Taste A Symptom Of COVID-19?

COVID-19 comes with a bunch of symptoms and it is not loss of taste alone. So, if you have a high fever, cannot smell, have body pain and other symptoms, then yes, it could be COVID. On its own however, having ageusia does NOT mean that you have COVID. If you’re still very worried, then just get a swab test done.

How To Regain Your Sense Of Taste After Losing It Suddenly?

Doctors first try to diagnose the exact reason for your ageusia and then will try to treat that root cause. So, for a cold, flu or something similar, you may be given antihistamines or antibiotics for infections. People who smoke regularly cannot taste well and so quitting does wonders for them.If gum disease is the main issue, then talk to your dentist and see how you can change your oral care routine.

Conclusion

When should you see a doctor for sudden loss of taste? This is a common question for anyone with this condition. The answer is pretty simple- if you have just ageusia itself, then just wait it out. If you think it is COVID and get a positive test diagnosis, then you should be okay in about 2-3 weeks. The doctor will try to run a few tests to understand why it happened, if you don’t know the root cause. Some diagnostic tests include blood tests, taste tests or even imaging, at times. One of the main problems people face is weight loss, because they lose the joy of eating. Don’t skip out on meals and ensure to eat fresh stuff which is nutritious everyday. You will feel better soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is sudden loss of taste a sign of a serious health condition?

Majority of the time- no. It is not anything super serious, but it could be due to a very bad cold, COVID-19, side effects of certain medications and nerve damage respectively. But, the last 3 cases are considered only if there is facial paralysis or if someone is not able to swallow normally.

How is loss of taste related to COVID-19, even without other symptoms?

Studies have shown that the virus does not directly affect the nerves involved in the olfactory pathways, but the symptoms still do show up. However, the sensations of taste and smell do return in a few weeks. So, you should mostly be fine.

Could a vitamin deficiency cause me to lose my sense of taste?

Yes, if you are deficient in Vitamin B12 or in zinc, then you may have to deal with loss of taste.

Can dental issues contribute to the loss of taste?

Yes, if there is an abscessed tooth, gum disease or if you use ill fitting, unclean dentures, then you may not be able to taste everything. Inflamed tongue or any autoimmune disease that affects the mouth can cause the same symptoms.

When should I seek medical attention for a sudden loss of taste?

If you notice worrying symptoms like facial paralysis, slurred speech, like those of a stroke, a very bad headache and the loss in taste persists for longer than 2 weeks, then you should go to a doctor to get it looked at.