I've just had the second bout of whatever irritating virus is doing the rounds this year - sore throat, cough, head full of gunk (yeuch) and yesterday suddenly realized that I couldn't smell anything, and sense of taste was diminished. Have temporarily not been able to smell before when I've had a head cold as have most people, but apart from a couple of occasions when it briefly improved it seems to be lasting. I can taste food and drink to some extent but it has not fully come back yet.

Has anyone experienced this as a permanent state following a virus or does it just take time to come back?