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Covid-19 may be turning children into fussy eaters, say experts; Youngsters may be suffering from parosmia.

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Byline: By, Nina Massey, PA & Nick Wood

COVID infections could be turning more and more children into fussy eaters, experts have suggested.

This may be because they are suffering from parosmia, a disorder in which people experience strange and often unpleasant smell distortions.

For example, chocolate may smell like petrol, or someone may smell rotting cabbage instead of lemon.

Smell experts at the University of East Anglia and Fifth Sense, the charity for people affected by smell and taste disorders, say children in particular may be finding it hard to eat foods they once loved.

Fifth Sense and Carl Philpott, from UEA's Norwich Medical School, are launching guidance to help parents and healthcare professionals better recognise the disorder.

Prof Philpott, said: "Parosmia is thought to be a product of having less smell receptors working which leads to only being able to pick up some of the components of a smell mixture.

"We know that an estimated 250,000 adults in the UK have suffered parosmia as a result of a COVID infection.

"But in the last few months, particularly since COVID started sweeping through classrooms last September, we've become more and more aware that it's affecting children too.

"In many cases the condition is putting children off their food, and many may be finding it difficult to eat at all."

Prof Philpott added that he is seeing teenage patients with parosmia for the first time in his career.

Fifth Sense chairman and founder Duncan Boak said: "We've heard from some parents whose children are suffering nutritional problems and have lost weight, but doctors have put this down to just fussy eating."

The new guidance shows that children should be listened to and believed.

It suggests parents can help by keeping a diary of foods that are safe, and those that are triggers.

Prof Philpott explained: "Establishing what the triggers are and what tastes OK is really important.

"There are lots of common triggers, for example cooking meat and onions or garlic and the...

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