ENT » Nose » Miscellaneous

Disturbances of the sense of smell

Olfaction, sense of smell, comprises 85% of taste. Neural degeneration causes decrease in smell and fine taste leading to decrease interest in eating in elderly. Loss of smell is anosmia - if acute may suggest tumour; changes in mucous membranes. Disorders of smell include anosmia, hypo-osmia, hyper osmia and dysosmia (parosmia) - erratic olfactory perception. Causal treatment may be helpful in nasal diseases. If a drug is the cause of a smell disorder, improvement occurs when it is stopped or changed. In many cases, nasal obstructions such as polyps can be removed to restore airflow to the receptor area and can correct the loss of smell and taste. Occasionally, chemo senses return to normal just as spontaneously as they disappeared.

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