A cold isn’t nearly as debilitating as the flu, but it can be annoying. Caused by several different viruses, the common cold lasts for about a week and causes stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing, and fatigue (via the Mayo Clinic). You might even run a low-grade fever, but it doesn’t knock you down like the flu or COVID-19 can. Since it causes inflammation in the nasal passages and throat, it can lead to a loss of taste and smell.
“Other viral infections, such as colds, can result in a loss of smell and taste,” explains Dr. Melissa McBrien, an otolaryngologist (via Beaumont). “Sometimes this is just for the length of the cold when the nose is blocked, but other times the lack of smell can last weeks to months.” The range of the loss of your taste depends on the severity of your loss of smell. FEMA Flavor noted that tasting is an experience of both the taste buds and smell, so it can make things taste off when the smell is affected.
Common colds don’t have a cure, but you can get over-the-counter treatments to help alleviate some of the more annoying symptoms like runny nose.