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Ugeskrift For Laeger Feb 2023Change in olfactory and/or gustatory dysfunction have gained attention in recent years because of COVID-19. However, these symptoms are common and have numerous... (Review)
Review
Change in olfactory and/or gustatory dysfunction have gained attention in recent years because of COVID-19. However, these symptoms are common and have numerous different aetiologies, which should not be forgotten. Adequate diagnostic work up and clinical examination is essential. Treatment may include olfactory training, topically applied steroids and perhaps surgery. This review summarises common reversible causes of olfactory and/or gustatory dysfunction and current treatment modalities.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Olfaction Disorders; Smell; Taste Disorders
PubMed: 36892317
DOI: No ID Found -
Chemical Senses Jan 2021Among those many individuals who experience a reduced odor sensitivity (hyposmia/anosmia), some individuals also have disorders that lead to odor distortion, such as...
Among those many individuals who experience a reduced odor sensitivity (hyposmia/anosmia), some individuals also have disorders that lead to odor distortion, such as parosmia (i.e. distorted odor with a known source), or odor phantoms (i.e. odor sensation without an odor source). We surveyed a large population with at least one olfactory disorder (N = 2031) and found that odor distortions were common (46%), with respondents reporting either parosmia (19%), phantosmia (11%), or both (16%). In comparison to respondents with hyposmia or anosmia, respondents with parosmia were more likely to be female, young, and suffering from post-viral olfactory loss (P < 0.001), while respondents with phantosmia were more likely to be middle-aged (P < 0.01) and experiencing symptoms caused by head trauma (P < 0.01). In addition, parosmia, compared to phantosmia or anosmia/hyposmia, was most prevalent 3 months to a year after olfactory symptom onset (P < 0.001), which coincides with the timeline of physiological recovery. Finally, we observed that the frequency and duration of distortions negatively affects the quality of life, with parosmia showing a higher range of severity than phantosmia (P < 0.001). Previous research often grouped these distortions together, but our results show that they have distinct patterns of demographics, medical history, and loss in quality of life.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Odorants; Olfaction Disorders; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Smell
PubMed: 34698820
DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjab046 -
Chemical Senses Sep 2017Anosmia and hyposmia, the inability or decreased ability to smell, is estimated to afflict 3-20% of the population. Risk of olfactory dysfunction increases with old age... (Review)
Review
Anosmia and hyposmia, the inability or decreased ability to smell, is estimated to afflict 3-20% of the population. Risk of olfactory dysfunction increases with old age and may also result from chronic sinonasal diseases, severe head trauma, and upper respiratory infections, or neurodegenerative diseases. These disorders impair the ability to sense warning odors in foods and the environment, as well as hinder the quality of life related to social interactions, eating, and feelings of well-being. This article reports and extends on a clinical update commencing at the 2016 Association for Chemoreception Sciences annual meeting. Included were reports from: a patient perspective on losing the sense of smell with information on Fifth Sense, a nonprofit advocacy organization for patients with olfactory disorders; an otolaryngologist's review of clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and management/treatment of anosmia; and researchers' review of recent advances in potential anosmia treatments from fundamental science, in animal, cellular, or genetic models. As limited evidence-based treatments exist for anosmia, dissemination of information on anosmia-related health risks is needed. This could include feasible and useful screening measures for olfactory dysfunction, appropriate clinical evaluation, and patient counseling to avoid harm as well as manage health and quality of life with anosmia.
Topics: Delivery of Health Care; Humans; Neuronal Plasticity; Olfaction Disorders; Prognosis; Quality of Life; Smell; Stem Cell Transplantation
PubMed: 28531300
DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjx025 -
International Forum of Allergy &... Nov 2020
Topics: Humans; Odorants; Olfaction Disorders; Olfactory Bulb; Smell
PubMed: 32776673
DOI: 10.1002/alr.22681 -
ORL; Journal For Oto-rhino-laryngology... 2023Definitions are essential for effective communication and discourse, particularly in science. They allow the shared understanding of a thought or idea, generalization of... (Review)
Review
Olfactory Nomenclature: An Orchestrated Effort to Clarify Terms and Definitions of Dysosmia, Anosmia, Hyposmia, Normosmia, Hyperosmia, Olfactory Intolerance, Parosmia, and Phantosmia/Olfactory Hallucination.
BACKGROUND
Definitions are essential for effective communication and discourse, particularly in science. They allow the shared understanding of a thought or idea, generalization of knowledge, and comparison across scientific investigation. The current terms describing olfactory dysfunction are vague and overlapping.
SUMMARY
As a group of clinical olfactory researchers, we propose the standardization of the terms "dysosmia," "anosmia," "hyposmia," "normosmia," "hyperosmia," "olfactory intolerance," "parosmia," and "phantosmia" (or "olfactory hallucination") in olfaction-related communication, with specific definitions in this text.
KEY MESSAGES
The words included in this paper were determined as those which are most frequently used in the context of olfactory function and dysfunction, in both clinical and research settings. Despite widespread use in publications, however, there still exists some disagreement in the literature regarding the definitions of terms related to olfaction. Multiple overlapping and imprecise terms that are currently in use are confusing and hinder clarity and universal understanding of these concepts. There is a pressing need to have a unified agreement on the definitions of these olfactory terms by researchers working in the field of chemosensory sciences. With the increased interest in olfaction, precise use of these terms will improve the ability to integrate and advance knowledge in this field.
Topics: Humans; Smell; Anosmia; Olfaction Disorders; Hallucinations
PubMed: 37062268
DOI: 10.1159/000530211 -
Cell and Tissue Research Jan 2021The sense of smell essentially contributes to social communication, guides nutrition behaviour and elicits avoidance towards environmental hazards. Olfactory smell... (Review)
Review
The sense of smell essentially contributes to social communication, guides nutrition behaviour and elicits avoidance towards environmental hazards. Olfactory smell impairment may hence entail severe consequences for affected individuals. Compared with sensory loss in other modalities, reduced olfactory function is often unnoticed by those affected and diagnosed late. Those patients seeking help frequently suffer from long-term impairments resulting in reduced well-being and quality of life. The current review provides an overview of aetiology, prevalence and specifics of diagnostics in acquired and congenital olfactory loss and focusses on short- and long-term consequences. Compensation strategies are elaborated, and treatment options are mentioned. Individual characteristics associated with the development of serious mental health impairment are discussed in order to help practitioners identifying populations at risk.
Topics: Humans; Olfaction Disorders
PubMed: 33496882
DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03381-9 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2022Parosmia, distorted smell sensations, is a common consequence of respiratory virus infections. The phenomenon is not well understood in terms of its impact and long-term...
Parosmia, distorted smell sensations, is a common consequence of respiratory virus infections. The phenomenon is not well understood in terms of its impact and long-term outcomes. We examined self-reported experiences of parosmia in a population-based sample from the Betula study that was conducted in Umeå in northern Sweden (baseline data collected in 1998-2000). We used a baseline sample of 2168 individuals aged 35-90 years and with no cognitive impairment at baseline. We investigated the prevalence of parosmia experiences and, using regression analyses, its relationship to other olfactory and cognitive variables and quality of life. Benefitting from the longitudinal study design, we also assessed the persistence of parosmia over 5 and 10 years prospectively. Parosmia experiences were prevalent in 4.8% of the population and it often co-occurred with phantosmia ("olfactory hallucinations"), but was not associated with lower self-rated overall quality of life or poor performance on olfactory or cognitive tests. For some individuals, parosmia was retained 5 years (17.0%) or even 10 years later (10.3%). Thus, parosmia experiences are commonly reported in the population, and can be persistent for some individuals, but might be mostly benign in nature. Our work complements research on clinical-level parosmia, which is typically more severe, and recent parosmia reports during the COVID-19 pandemic, where long-term outcomes are still unknown.
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Olfaction Disorders; Pandemics; Quality of Life; Smell
PubMed: 35697904
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13201-5 -
Current Opinion in Otolaryngology &... Feb 2022This article reviews the literature on COVID-19 related anosmia, focusing on the epidemiology, pathophysiology recovery rates, current available treatment options, and... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This article reviews the literature on COVID-19 related anosmia, focusing on the epidemiology, pathophysiology recovery rates, current available treatment options, and research regarding novel treatments.
RECENT FINDINGS
Loss of sense of smell is one of the most prevalent symptoms reported by patients after COVID-19 infection. Even though there is a high self-reported recovery rate, recent studies have demonstrated that up to 7% of the patients remain anosmic more than 12 months after onset, leaving millions worldwide with severe olfactory dysfunction. Olfactory training remains the first line recommended treatment. Given the paucity of effective medical treatments options researchers are exploring novel therapeutic options.
SUMMARY
Olfactory dysfunction remains a significant and persistent legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic, but heightened awareness may stimulate research that leads to the development of much-needed treatment options.
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Olfaction Disorders; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Smell
PubMed: 34889850
DOI: 10.1097/MOO.0000000000000783 -
Journal of Huntington's Disease 2021Olfactory dysfunction is a common symptom in patients with neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington's disease (HD). Understanding its pathophysiology is... (Review)
Review
Olfactory dysfunction is a common symptom in patients with neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington's disease (HD). Understanding its pathophysiology is important in establishing a preventive and therapeutic plan. In this literature review, we cover the physiology of olfaction, its role in neurodegeneration, and its characteristics in patients with HD. In the general population, olfactory dysfunction is present in 3.8-5.8%and the prevalence increases significantly in those older than 80 years. For HD, data regarding prevalence rates are lacking and the scales used have been inconsistent or have been restructured due to concerns about cross-cultural understanding. Pathogenic huntingtin deposits have been found in the olfactory bulb of individuals with HD, although no studies have correlated this with the grade of olfactory impairment. Olfactory dysfunction is present in both premanifest and manifest patients with HD, showing a progressive decline over time with more severe deficits at advanced stages. No specific treatment for olfactory impairment in HD has been proposed; identifying and avoiding potential medications that cause olfactory dysfunction, as well as general safety recommendations remain the basis of the therapeutic strategy.
Topics: Humans; Huntington Disease; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Olfaction Disorders; Smell
PubMed: 34719504
DOI: 10.3233/JHD-210497 -
Handbook of Clinical Neurology 2019Despite garnering minimal attention from the medical community overall, olfaction is indisputably critical in the manner in which we as humans interact with our... (Review)
Review
Despite garnering minimal attention from the medical community overall, olfaction is indisputably critical in the manner in which we as humans interact with our surrounding environment. As the initial anatomical structure in the olfactory pathway, the nasal airway plays a crucial role in the transmission and perception of olfactory stimuli. The goal of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive overview of olfactory disturbances as it pertains to the sinonasal airway. This comprises an in-depth discussion of clinically relevant nasal olfactory anatomy and physiology, classification systems of olfactory disturbance, as well as the various etiologies and pathophysiologic mechanisms giving rise to this important disease entity. A systematic clinical approach to the diagnosis and clinical workup of olfactory disturbances is also provided in addition to an extensive review of the medical and surgical therapeutic modalities currently available.
Topics: Chronic Disease; Humans; Nasal Cavity; Nose; Olfaction Disorders; Olfactory Bulb; Smell
PubMed: 31604553
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-444-63855-7.00018-6