Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Functional and Sensory Disorders
Number of Conditions: 2
Hyposmia/anosmia (reduced or lost sense of smell)
Specialty: Nose and Throat
Category: Nasal Conditions
Sub-category: Functional and Sensory Disorders
Symptoms:
reduced ability to detect odors; complete loss of smell; reduced taste perception; difficulty detecting dangerous odors like smoke or gas
Root Cause:
Damage or obstruction in the olfactory system, caused by inflammation, nasal polyps, viral infections, trauma, or neurodegenerative diseases.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Detailed medical history, physical examination of the nose, smell identification tests (e.g., UPSIT), imaging studies like CT or MRI, and sometimes blood tests to identify underlying conditions.
Treatment:
Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include nasal corticosteroids, antihistamines, surgery (for obstructions like polyps), or olfactory training.
Medications:
Nasal corticosteroids (e.g., fluticasone , mometasone ) to reduce inflammation, antihistamines (e.g., loratadine , cetirizine ) for allergy-related causes, and decongestants (e.g., pseudoephedrine ) to alleviate nasal congestion.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 20% of the population, with a higher prevalence in older adults and individuals with chronic nasal conditions or neurological disorders.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Aging, smoking, chronic sinusitis, viral infections, head trauma, exposure to toxic chemicals, and neurological disorders like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies based on the cause; temporary loss of smell due to infections or inflammation may recover with treatment, but loss due to neurodegenerative diseases or severe trauma may be permanent.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Reduced quality of life, difficulty detecting harmful odors, risk of malnutrition (due to diminished taste), and depression or anxiety related to sensory loss.
Parosmia (distorted sense of smell)
Specialty: Nose and Throat
Category: Nasal Conditions
Sub-category: Functional and Sensory Disorders
Symptoms:
distorted perception of odors; normally pleasant smells perceived as unpleasant; difficulty identifying familiar odors; heightened sensitivity to certain smells
Root Cause:
Disruption in the regeneration or functioning of olfactory receptor neurons, often following viral infections, head trauma, or toxin exposure.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Medical history, smell testing, nasal endoscopy to check for structural issues, and imaging studies like MRI or CT to rule out central nervous system causes.
Treatment:
Olfactory training, management of underlying conditions (e.g., sinusitis or polyps), and sometimes nasal corticosteroids or antihistamines to reduce inflammation.
Medications:
Nasal corticosteroids (e.g., fluticasone , mometasone ) for inflammation, and omega-3 fatty acid supplements to support nerve repair (not universally prescribed but sometimes recommended).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Exact prevalence unknown, but often reported in individuals recovering from viral upper respiratory infections (e.g., COVID-19) or with chronic nasal conditions.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Viral infections, head trauma, chronic rhinosinusitis, exposure to environmental toxins, and aging.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Often improves over time, especially with olfactory training, though recovery may take weeks to months. In some cases, distortion may persist.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Difficulty enjoying food and beverages, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life.