Olfactory Hallucinations Following COVID-19 Vaccination
Kelsey Barter1, Francesca Bagnato1,2
1Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.
Summary
A rare case of vaccine-induced phantosmia (olfactory hallucination) occurred after the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine. This olfactory disturbance persisted for 21 months, highlighting a potential, though uncommon, adverse effect of vaccination.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Phantosmia, or olfactory hallucination, is a rare adverse effect of vaccination.
- No prior reports linked phantosmia to the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine.
Observation:
- A 39-year-old veteran experienced a persistent burning odor sensation three weeks post-J&J COVID-19 vaccination.
- Neurological examinations and brain imaging were unremarkable.
- The phantosmia lasted for 21 months.
Findings:
- This is the first reported case of phantosmia associated with the J&J COVID-19 vaccine.
- Previous literature documented phantosmia and hyposmia following the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
Implications:
- Healthcare professionals should be aware of potential olfactory disturbances as a rare adverse effect of COVID-19 vaccines.
- This case informs patient counseling regarding benign, potentially prolonged side effects of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine.
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