BMJ  2007;334:423 (24 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.39035.624583.68

Practice

10-minute consultation

Olfactory loss

E Ofo, specialist registrar in otolaryngology1, B O'Reilly, ear, nose, and throat consultant1, A O'Doherty, general practitioner2

1 Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Nethermayne, Basildon SS16 5NL, 2 Hassengate Medical Centre, Stanford-le-Hope SS17 0PH

Correspondence to: E Ofo eofo@hotmail.com

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

A 65 year old man presents with loss of smell and altered taste, affecting his appetite and food intake. He had an upper respiratory tract infection before the onset of symptoms nine months ago. Initially, normal odours were distorted, followed by a constant foul smell for three months, and then complete loss of smell.

Olfactory disorder or true taste complaint— Altered olfaction is common and invariably causes flavour loss, which most patients perceive as taste dysfunction. The ability to taste salt, sour, bitter, and sweet remains intact, as it is a function of the chorda tympani nerve with contribution from the glossopharngeal and vagus nerves.

Degree of olfactory dysfunction—Anosmia is complete loss of the sense of smell. Most patients have hyposmia (decreased sensitivity to some or all odorants). Cacosmia is the detection of normal smell as foul or unpleasant. Dysosmia is distortion of perceived odours.

Quality of life—. . . [Full text of this article]


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