It smells like strawberry Laffy Taffy.

This strategy works like a charm to get a strawberry flavored popsicle stick into a little one’s mouth, but in today’s world of COVID-19, they might have a new use as well.

New data from adults suggest that the anosmia, or the loss of the sense of smell, might be a sign more specific for COVID-19. This could be helpful in the middle of cold and allergy season when everyone seems to have cough and congestion. According to researchers, it's possible that between 30 and 60 percent of COVID-19 patients have a significant loss of smell. This seems to occur both before sypmtoms arise and along with other symptoms. 

While it might be difficult to assess with young children, parents and providers could be able to use loss of smell as an indication that COVID-19 might be more likely.

One important thing to keep in mind is that a lack of smell is likely to be significant if the child does not have nasal congestion, which would otherwise explain the symptom. 

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Some patients also report digestive issues like diarrhea.

Related Articles

• COVID-19 Testing Guidelines: Why Every Patient Won’t Be Tested For COVID-19 At Cook Children’s
• New Visitation Rules at Cook Children's Medical Center in Response to COVID-19
• Don’t rush to the doctor’s office. Here’s what to do if you suspect your child has COVID-19
• What Parents Need to Know About the Coronavirus
• COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information
• Información sobre el COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
• How to Prepare for the COVID-19 (CDC)