BACKGROUND: Subjective smell and taste disorders were frequently reported during and after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (SCI), but mostly investigated by interviews/questionnaires. METHODS: We examined from 07/2021 to 10/2022 objective (U-Sniff/Taste Strips) and subjective (questionnaire-based) impairment in children with (1) acute SCI (AC; n = 30) and other upper respiratory tract infection (n = 34), (2) children with (PI+; n = 28)/without (PI-; n = 13) remaining symptoms >/=12 weeks after SCI and (3) as control 18 noninfected children. Children with acute infections were examined blinded regarding the results of their SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction. Statistics: X(2), F test, Kruskal-Wallis, P < 0.05. RESULTS: Abnormal test results occurred in up to a fifth of children. Severe hyposmia was detected in 17% of children with upper respiratory tract infection and 21% in PI+, severe hypogeusia was mostly in AC children (18%), followed by both postinfection groups (PI+ 12%, PI- 10%). Subjective smell impairment was significantly more frequent in PI+ (32% vs.
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