What Is Anosmia?
Anosmia is the partial or complete loss of the sense of
smell. This loss may be temporary or permanent. Common conditions that irritate
the noseâs lining, such as allergies or a cold, can lead to temporary anosmia. More
serious conditions that affect the brain or nerves, such as brain tumors or head
trauma, can cause permanent loss of smell. Old age sometimes causes anosmia.
Anosmia is usually not serious. But it can have a profound
effect on a personâs quality of life. People with anosmia may not be able fully
taste foods. They may lose interest in eating. This can lead to weight loss or
malnutrition. People with anosmia may also become depressed because they are not
able to smell or taste pleasurable foods.
What Causes Anosmia?
Anosmia is frequently caused by a swelling or blockage in
the nose. This can prevent odors from getting to the top of the nose. Anosmia
is sometimes caused by a problem with the system that sends signals from the
nose to the brain. The main causes of anosmia include:
Irritation to the Mucus Membranes Lining the Nose
Irritation to the noseâs lining may result from:
sinus infectionscommon coldssmokinginfluenza (the flu)allergies (allergic rhinitis)chronic congestion not related to allergies
(nonallergic rhinitis)
A cold is the most common cause for partial and temporary
loss of smell. In these cases, the anosmia will go away on its own.
Blockage of the Nasal Passages
Loss of smell can occur if something is physically blocking
the passage of air into the nose. This may include:
tumorsnasal polypsbone deformities inside the nose or a nasal
septum that is not straight
Brain or Nerve Damage
There are receptors inside the nose that send information
through nerves to the brain. Anosmia can occur if any part of this pathway is
damaged. There are many conditions that can cause this damage, including:
old ageAlzheimerâs diseasebrain tumorsHuntingtonâs diseasehormonal problemsunderactive thyroidmedications, including some antibiotics and high
blood pressure medicationsmultiple sclerosisParkinsonâs diseaseschizophreniaepilepsydiabeteschemical exposures that burn the inside of your
nosebrain or head injury brain surgerymalnutrition radiation therapylong-term alcoholismstroke
Rarely, people are born with no sense of smell because of a
genetic condition. This is called congenital anosmia.
How Is Anosmia Diagnosed?
The loss of smell is difficult to measure. A doctor or healthcare
provider may ask you some questions about your current symptoms, examine your
nose, perform a complete physical examination, and ask about your health
history.
He or she may ask questions about when the problem started,
if all or only some types of odors are affected, and whether or not you can
taste food. Depending on your answers, your doctor may also perform one or more
of the following tests:
computerized tomography (CT) scans, which use X-rays
to create a detailed image of the brainmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses
radio waves and magnets to view the brainX-ray of the skullnasal endoscopy to look inside your nose
What Are the Complications
of Anosmia?
People with anosmia may lose interest in food and eating.
This could lead to malnutrition and weight loss.
Patients with anosmia should make sure to have functioning
smoke alarms in their homes at all times. They should also be cautious with
food storage and the use of natural gas because they may have trouble detecting
spoiled foods and gas leaks. Recommended precautions include:
properly labeling foods with expiration datesreading labels on chemicals like kitchen
cleaners and insecticidesusing electric appliances.
How Is Anosmia Treated?
Treatment depends on the cause. If the loss of smell occurs
with a cold, an allergy, or a sinus infection, it will typically clear up on
its own in a few days. You should consult your doctor if the anosmia does not
clear up once the cold or allergy symptoms have subsided.
Treatments that may help resolve anosmia caused by nasal
irritation include:
decongestantsantihistaminessteroid nasal spraysantibiotics (for bacterial infections) reducing exposure to nasal irritants and
allergenscessation of smoking
Loss of smell caused by nasal obstruction can be treated by
removing whatever is obstructing your nasal passage. This removal may involve
operations to remove nasal polyps, straighten the nasal septum, or clear out
the sinuses (NHS, 2012).
Elderly people are more susceptible to losing their sense of
smell permanently. There is no treatment available currently for people with
congenital anosmia.
Patients with partial loss of their sense of
smell can add concentrated flavoring agents to food to improve their enjoyment
of the food.
Source: http://www.healthline.com