Disturbances in the sense of smell, such as loss of smell or loss of smell, may indicate one of many diseases. The reasons for the impairment of the sense of smell include: Rhinitis, or runny nose, and inflammation of the nasal mucosa and sinuses. Smelling disorders can also be a symptom of more serious diseases, such as tumors or an aneurysm of the brain, and even a mental illness - schizophrenia. Check which other diseases may be indicated by an olfactory disorder.

Smell disorders

Smelling disorder( dysosmia ) is an impairment of the ability to sense smells or a change in the sense of olfactory sensations.The reasons forimpaired sense of smell are both impulse conduction disorders (related to insufficient supply of odorant molecules to the olfactory field) and disorders of the olfactory neuron (dysfunction of the olfactory epithelium and / or olfactory nerve pathway).

Odors are conducted from the olfactory cells located in the mucosa of the frontal part of the nasal cavity (the so-called olfactory field), through the 1st cranial nerve (olfactory nerve), to the primary olfactory cortex (called the olfactory cortex), that is the part of the brain responsible for the perception of smell, and other structures, the so-called the limbic system, influencing behavior and reactions to olfactory sensations. Therefore, a dysfunction of any of these elements may lead to an olfactory disorder.

Smell disorders - types

There are two types of smell disorders in medical terminology:

1. Qualitative disorders related to the change in the perception of smells and their identification:

  • kakosmia is a spontaneous, paroxysmal feeling of unpleasant, sometimes disgusting smells
  • pseudosomia is the perception of smells other than those that exist in reality, and are assigned to a given item
  • phantosomia are hallucinations, smell hallucinations, i.e. the perception of non-existent smells
  • angosomy is the loss of the ability to recognize odors

2. Quantitative disorders related to abnormalities in the intensity of olfactory sensations:

  • anosomy is a total loss of smell
  • hyposomy is a weakened sense of smell
  • hypersomia is an oversensitive smell

Qualitative smell disorders - causes

Qualitative olfactory disorders usually areresponsible disorders of the nervous system - most often pathological changes in the cerebral cortex or damage to other structures, the so-called the limbic system, which corresponds, inter alia, to for the sense of smell.

For example, the cause of cocosmia is irritation, incl. the amygdala (parts of the limbic system). It is worth knowing that kakosmia may be a symptom ofepilepsy attack . Phantosomy, on the other hand, accompanies neurological diseases, such asAlzheimer's diseaseorschizophrenia .

Quantitative olfactory disorders - causes

1. Conduction disorders

  • sinusitisis manifested by pain in the sinuses (it can affect the forehead or even the upper jaw), which worsens in the morning and with bending. In addition, there is a watery or thick nasal discharge. The accompanying symptoms are fever, malaise, feeling crushed or lack of appetite
  • allergic rhinitis , or allergic rhinitis, is characterized by profuse, runny discharge from the nose that causes stuffy nose and itchy nose. Symptoms of inflammation caused by allergens, such as grass pollen, can also include headache and conjunctivitis accompanied by tearing, redness and itching of the eyes, as well as photophobia
  • rhinitis(rhinitis), or runny nose, can be recognized by the gradual decrease in nasal obstruction and the discharge of nasal discharge - initially watery, with time getting thicker. In addition, the patient suffers from itching in the throat and nose as well as lacrimation. Symptoms that accompany microbial rhinitis are weakness, headache and often low-grade fever
  • nasal polyps -progressive growth of the mucosa lining the inside of the nose and paranasal sinuses causes feeling blocked nose and nasal discharge running down the back of the throat. Along with the growth of polyps, numerous diseases of the respiratory system may develop, e.g. bronchitis or bronchial asthma
  • curvature of the nasal septumcauses difficulty in breathing through the nose, which may be accompanied by headaches, frequent nosebleeds and a troublesome runny nose. The curve of the nasal septum can cause recurrent infections, such as sinusitis, eustachian rhinitis, and otitis media
  • turbinate hypertrophymanifests itself with impaired nasal obstruction, recurrent runny nose and snoring. If left untreated, it can lead to recurrent sinusitis, Eustachian tube inflammation and pharyngitis, andlarynx
  • nasal and nasopharyngeal tumors -the first symptoms are chronic rhinitis and paranasal sinusitis, as well as enlarged lymph nodes .Due to the fact that these symptoms are not characteristic, the disease is diagnosed at an advanced stage of development, when unilateral exudative otitis media, hearing impairment and tinnitus develop. There is also an unpleasant smell from the mouth

Smell disorders may also result from nasal obstruction in the course of malformations and post-traumatic changes in the nose.

2. Odor neuron disorder

  • skull injuries , especially with a fracture of the base of the anterior skull fossa, can lead to complete damage to the olfactory nerves, and thus - irreversible loss of smell
  • frontal lobe tumors- damage to the nerves conducting sensory impressions may lead to disturbance not only of smell, but also of sight. In addition, the patient develops disturbances in gait, balance, becomes lethargic, or vice versa - hyperactive or even aggressive
  • chronic atrophic rhinitisis characterized by a repulsive smell from the nose (at first the patient smells unpleasant, but as the disease progresses, due to the loss of smell, he is not aware of it) as well as atrophy of the nasal mucosa that becomes dry and widening of the nasal cavity
  • aneurysm of the anterior cerebral arteryor anterior connecting artery (pressing on the olfactory nerve) - very often the aneurysm does not cause any symptoms. Only when it grows and begins to put pressure on the olfactory nerve, it manifests itself in the form of an olfactory disorder
  • exposure to toxic compounds, inorganic dust, tobacco smoke, cocaine and heroin use - these compounds damage the olfactory receptors
  • smell disorders may be related to old age (presbyosmia)

Other causes of an olfactory disorder may be acute viral infections of the upper respiratory tract, bronchial asthma, thyroid and parathyroid disease, diabetes, and vitamin (e.g. vitamin B12) and mineral deficiency (e.g. zinc).Loss of smellmay also be the first sign of developingParkinson's disease . On the other hand,sharpening of the sense of smellis often observed in pregnant women.

Smell disorder and medications taken

Smell disorders may be a side effect of taking medications for high blood pressure (nifedipine, diltiazem, captopril) or epilepsy (lamotrigine, carbamazepine, phenytoin). Other drugs that work negatively on the olfactory nerves includeantibiotics (e.g. aminoglycosides). The use of sodium laurin toothpaste or zinc gluconate nasal gel can also reduce the sense of smell. In the literature, you can come across the concept of anosmia dependent on glucocorticosteroids (steroid dependent anosmia - SDA).

Category:

He alth