Anosmia is a condition in which a person is unable to perceive odors, either partially or completely.
The article was professionally consulted by Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Thi Bich Dao, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hanoi Medical University Hospital.
Reason
- Infection: Sinusitis, nasal polyps... often recover after treatment of the infection.
- Chronic meningitis and meningosyphilis. This often causes permanent loss of smell that cannot be restored.
- Some autoimmune diseases damage the ciliated cells of the respiratory tract, affecting the olfactory nerve. This is also a type of disease that causes irreversible loss of smell.
- Olfactory nerve damage due to Covid. About 90% will recover but need support with nerve tonics.
- Congenital loss of smell is also irreversible.
Diagnose
- Ask the patient about loss of smell.
* How did the phenomenon appear and how long did it last?
* How does loss of smell develop? (Sudden or gradual, after trauma, after flu-like symptoms).
* Is the loss of smell accompanied by any other symptoms (stuffy nose, runny nose, headache...)?
- Examination
* Endoscopy.
* CT scan or MRI (if needed).
* Test to detect loss of smell.
- Treatment
Loss of smell can be reversible or permanent depending on the cause of the damage.
If the loss of smell is due to sinusitis, active treatment of the sinusitis is needed, and smell function will usually recover.
If the loss of smell is due to a tumor or polyp compressing the smelling area, endoscopic sinus surgery to remove the tumor or polyp is required, combined with medical treatment (anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-edema...).
Some cases of loss of smell are early signs of neurological diseases such as amnesia, muscle spasms... need to be examined for early treatment.
In cases where no cause is found or some causes cannot be treated, early rehabilitation must be performed to avoid affecting quality of life.
Thuy An
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