According to scientists, more youngsters are becoming picky
eaters
after being exposed to COVID-19. Researchers
discovered that the virus
is causing an increase in the number of children
getting parosmia, a
disease in which people perceive odd and
frequently unpleasant scent
distortions.

Chocolate may smell like fuel to persons suffering
from the illness,
while lemon may smell like rotten cabbage.

Smell specialists from the University of East
Anglia and Fifth Sense,
a charity for people with smell and taste
impairments, believe that
youngsters may be finding it especially difficult
to consume items
they formerly enjoyed.

Also Read | Japan’s omicron struggles set to trigger new COVID curbs: Officials

According to Professor Carl Philpott of the
University of East
Anglia’s Norwich Medical School, the illness
“puts youngsters off
their meals, and many may find it difficult to eat
at all” in many
situations.

“Parosmia is assumed to be a result of having
fewer functional smell
receptors, which results in just being able to
pick up part of the
components of a scent combination,” he
explained.

“We know that an estimated 250,000
individuals in the United Kingdom
have had parosmia as a result of a COVID
infection.”

“However, in recent months, particularly when
COVID began sweeping
across schools in September, we’ve grown
increasingly conscious that
it’s affecting youngsters as well.”

Also Read | Novak Djokovic’s vaccine misery may extend to French Open

According to Fifth Sense chairman and founder
Duncan Boak, the
organisation has heard from several parents whose
children are
suffering from nutritional issues and have lost
weight, but physicians
have attributed this to finicky eating. He stated
that this is the
first time in his experience that he is
encountering young patients
with parosmia.

Prof Philpott and Fifth Sense are releasing
guidelines to assist
parents and healthcare providers in recognizing
the illness. It is
recommended that parents keep a food diary of safe
foods.

“There are many typical triggers, such as
frying meat with onions or
garlic and the scent of new coffee brewing,”
Prof Philpott explained.

Also Read | Anthony Fauci’s net worth is more than $10 million, documents reveal

“Parents and healthcare experts should
encourage youngsters to try
other meals with less strong flavors – such as
spaghetti, bananas, or
mild cheese – to discover what they can manage
with or love,” he
continues.

“Vanilla or flavor-free protein and vitamin
milkshakes can help
youngsters obtain the nutrients they need without
having to deal with
the taste.”

“Also, while it may seem apparent, youngsters
can wear a soft nose
clip or hold their nose while eating to assist
them to block out the
flavors.”