Anosmia – Symptoms, Causes, Prevention And Treatment

Anosmia Symptoms

Loss of the sense of hearing is known as deafness and loss of sight is called blindness. Now, what is the name given to the total absence of smell?

The five senses are undoubtedly a wonderful gift, because although they are not essential for life, they make it more pleasant. So losing one of them, like smell, and not being able to perceive the exquisite fragrance of flowers, favorite foods or the smell of our loved ones, is actually very frustrating.

For those who suffer from this pathology , it is a priority to understand what it consists of, its causes and symptoms and, more importantly, its treatment, however, it should also be of interest to everyone in general.

Table of Contents

Toggle

What Is Anosmia Symptoms?

Anosmia is the inability to perceive the smell or, at least, the significant decrease in the olfactory capacity. Usually, the ability to perceive flavors also decreases. So, it is often related to loss of the sense of taste.

Some terms associated with anosmia are hyposmia, which refers to a decreased ability to smell, or hypersomnia, which refers to when one smells more intensely. Also, there are cases where people are anomic only for certain types of odors.

What Causes Anosmia?

If you want to better understand how anosmia occurs, you must first study the functioning of the sense of smell. In this regard, the smell is the result of inhaling particles that adhere to the receptors of the slippery membranes of the nose, which are capable of detecting up to seven essential odors and with the combination of these up to 10,000 different fragrances.

On the other hand, when the receptor is stimulated, a nerve impulse is sent through the olfactory nerve, which in turn transmits information to the olfactory bulb. Once there, the information goes to the hypothalamus and, finally, to the cerebral cortex to generate awareness of the smell.

Now, if the nasal mucosa, nerves or brain structures involved in the process of smell perception have been altered, anosmia can be generated to different degrees.

On the other hand, this pathology originates when an intranasal inflammation prevents odors from entering the olfactory area . It also occurs when the olfactory neuroepithelium or the central olfactory nerve filaments, bulbs, pathways, or connections are destroys.

Pathologies That Can Cause Anosmia Symptoms

The appearance of anosmia can be due to several factors, many of them associated with infectious and inflammatory problems, allergic reactions, tumors and deformities in the internal bones of the nose.

Among the pathologies that limit the entry of air to the olfactory receptors located in the upper part of the nostrils, are the following:

Chronic rhinitis.
nasal polyps.
Acute sinusitis.
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
Deviation of the nasal septum.
Turbinate hypertrophy.
Nasal and brain tumors.
Cranioencephalic trauma.
Kalman’s syndrome.
Paget’s disease.
Sjogren’s syndrome.
Klinefelter syndrome.
Parkinson disease.
Covid-19.

Symptoms Of Anosmia

The wide variety of probable causes of anosmia make the range of symptoms that accompanies it very large, however, this fact can contribute to the correct identification of the causes of the olfactory deficit.

In anosmia’s caused by infectious reasons, the patient usually presents these symptoms

Loss of smell
General discomfort
Fever
Runny nose
Cough
Nasal bleeding
Mucus
Diagnosis of anosmia

It is necessary to consult an otorhinolaryngology specialist. The analysis that this health professional performs allows us to assess the accompanying symptoms, investigate the origins of the loss of smell, distinguish whether it is total or partial, and investigate a traumatic history.

Treatment Of Anosmia

The treatment of this disease varies depending on the underlying cause of it, as explained below

Anosmia of infectious origin – Treating with anti- inflammatory , antihistamines and, if necessary, with intranasal corticosteroids and antibiotics.
Infections and inflammation of the sinuses are treated with steam inhalations, nasal sprays, and antibiotics.
Anosmia of obstructive origin – Causing by nasal polyps, tumors or deviations of the nasal septum. It is also necessary in the case of chronic sinusitis.

Can Anosmia Be Prevented?

Undoubtedly , a set of measures can be adopted to prevent the loss of smell , among these we can mention

Limit exposure to toxic products.
Avoid contact with allergens.
Do not abuse nasal sprays that can affect the nasal mucosa, both those for nasal vasoconstriction.
Influenza vaccination, since the influenza virus is the cause of a good proportion of cases of anosmia.

Recommendations For People With Anosmia

It is essential that people with anosmia take into account some safety measures in their daily activities , such as those indicated now:

Be careful with the conservation of food and its expiration dates.
Store toxic liquids in spaces that are easily distinguishable.
It is better not to use gas or flammable liquids.
There is no doubt, the sense of smell is crucial to differentiate the flavors of food, because although they are perceive the sense of taste. These sensations have their origin in smell.

Conclusion

Anosmia due to nutritional or trace element deficiencies. Treating with the contribution of nutritional supplements that supply what the body requires. Anosmia’s of neurological origin. Its treatment is essentially that of the underlying neurological disease.