Anosmia
88988
225068596
2008-07-11T19:00:58Z
HiB2Bornot2B
2171816
/* Causes */ citation needed to study/journal to link smoking to total anosmia.
{{SignSymptom infobox |
Name = Anosmia |
ICD10 = {{ICD10|R|43|0|r|40}} |
ICD9 = {{ICD9|781.1}} |
}}
'''Anosmia''' is the lack of [[olfaction]], or an absence of the ability to smell. It can be either temporary or permanent. A related term, [[hyposmia]], refers to a decrease in the ability to smell, while [[hyperosmia]] refers to an increased ability to smell. Some people may be anosmic for one particular [[odor]]. This is called "specific anosmia" and may be genetically based.
While termed as a disability, anosmia is often viewed in the medical field as a trivial problem. This is not always the case — [[esthesioneuroblastoma]] is a very rare cancerous tumor originating in or near the olfactory nerve.
==Diagnosis==
Anosmia can be diagnosed by doctors by using [[scratch-n-sniff]] odor tests or by using commonly available odors such as [[coffee]], [[lemon]], [[grape]], [[vanilla]] and [[cinnamon]].
==Presentation==
Anosmia can have a number of detrimental effects. Patients with sudden onset anosmia may find food less appetizing, though congenital anosmics rarely complain about this. Loss of smell can also be dangerous because it hinders the detection of gas leaks, fire, body odor, and spoiled food. The common view of anosmia as trivial can make it more difficult for a patient to receive the same types of medical aid as someone who has lost other senses, such as hearing or sight.
Losing an established and sentimental smell memory (e.g. the smell of grass, of the grandparents' attic, of a particular book, of loved ones, or of oneself) has been known to cause feelings of [[clinical depression|depression]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6199605.stm|title=news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6199605.stm<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref>
Loss of olfaction may lead to the loss of libido, though this may not apply to congenital anosmics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6199605.stm|title=news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6199605.stm<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref>
Often people who have congenital anosmia report that they pretended to be able to smell as children because they thought that smelling was something that older/mature people could do, or did not understand the concept of smelling but did not want to appear different from others. When children get older, they often realize and report to their parents that they do not actually possess a sense of smell, much to the surprise of their parents.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
==Causes==
A temporary loss of smell can be caused by a stuffy [[nose]] or infection. In contrast, a permanent loss of smell may be caused by death of [[olfactory receptor neuron]]s in the nose, or by [[brain injury]] in which there is damage to the [[olfactory nerve]] or damage to brain areas that process smell (see [[olfactory system]]). The lack of the sense of smell at birth, usually due to genetic factors, is referred as ''[[congenital]] anosmia.'' Anosmia may very occasionally be an early sign of degenerative brain diseases such as [[Parkinson's disease]] and [[Alzheimer's disease]]. Another specific cause of permanent loss could be from damage to olfactory receptor neurons due to use of certain types of [[nasal spray]], i.e. those that cause vasoconstriction of the nasal microcirculation. To avoid such damage and subsequent risk of loss of smell from vasoconstricting nasal sprays, they should be used for only a short amount of time and only when absolutely necessary. Non-vasoconstricting sprays, such as those used to treat allergy related congestion are safe to use for extended periods of time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coldcure.com/anosmia/anosmia.html|title=www.coldcure.com/anosmia/anosmia.html<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref> Anosmia can also be caused by nasal polyps. These polyps are found in people with allergies, histories of sinusitis & family history. Individuals with Cystic Fibrosis often develop nasal polyps.
Causes of anosmia include:
*Upper respiratory tract infection (e.g., [[sinusitis]] or the [[common cold]])<ref name="Doty2001">{{cite journal
| author=Doty RL, Mishra A
| title=Influences of nasal obstruction, rhinitis, and rhinosinusitis on the ability to smell
| journal=Laryngoscope
| volume=111
| pages=409–23
| year=2001 }}</ref>
*[[Nasal polyps]]
*[[tobacco smoking|Smoking]]{{Fact|date=August 2007}}
*Head trauma, damage to the [[ethmoid bone]]<ref name="Doty1997">{{cite journal
| author=Doty RL, Yousem DM, Pham LT, Kreshak AA, Lee WW
| title=Olfactory dysfunction in patients with head trauma
| journal=Arch Neurol
| volume=54
| pages=1131–1140
| year=1997 }}</ref>
*[[Dementia with Lewy bodies]]
*[[Parkinson's Disease]]<!--
--><ref name="Doty1988">{{cite journal
| author=Doty RL, Deems D, Stellar S
| title=Olfactory dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: A general deficit unrelated to neurologic signs, disease stage, or disease duration
| journal=Neurology
| volume=38
| pages=1237–44
| year=1988 }}</ref>
*[[Alzheimer's Disease]]<!--
--><ref name="Murphy1988">{{cite journal
| author=Murphy C
| title=Loss of olfactory function in dementing disease
| journal=Physiology & Behavior
| volume=66
| pages=177–182
| year=1999
| doi=10.1016/S0031-9384(98)00262-5
}}</ref>
*Toxins (especially [[acrylate]]s, [[methacrylate]]s<ref name="Schwartz">{{cite journal
| author=Schwartz B, Doty RL, Frye RE, Monroe C, Barker S
| title=Olfactory function in chemical workers exposed to acrylate and methacrylate vapors
| journal=Am J Pub Health
| volume=79
| pages=613–618
| year=1989 }}</ref> and [[cadmium]]<ref name="Rose1992">{{cite journal
| author=Rose CS, Heywood PG, Costanzo RM
| title=Olfactory impairment after chronic occupational cadmium exposure
| journal=Journal of Occupational Medicine
| volume=34
| pages=600–605
| year=1992 }}</ref><ref name="Rydzewski1998">{{cite journal
| author=Rydzewski B, Sulkowski W, Miarzynaska M
| year=1998
| title=Olfactory disorders induced by cadmium exposure: A clinical study
| journal=Int J Occ Med Env Health
| volume=11
| pages=235–245 }}</ref>)
*Old age<ref name="">{{cite journal
| author=Doty RL, Shaman P, Applebaum SL, Giberson R, Sikorsky L, Rosenberg L
| title=Smell identification ability: Changes with age
| journal=Science
| volume=226
| pages=1441–1443
| year=1984
| doi=10.1126/science.6505700
| pmid=6505700
}}</ref>
*[[Kallmann syndrome]]
*[[Laryngectomy]] with permanent [[tracheostomy]]
*Esthesioneuroblastoma is an exceedingly rare cancerous tumor that originates in or near the [[olfactory nerve]]. Symptoms are anosmia (loss of sense of smell) often accompanied by chronic [[sinusitis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic748.htm|title=www.emedicine.com/med/topic748.htm<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref>
*[[Intranasal Drug Use]]
*[[Samter's triad]]
{{incomplete-list}}
==Associated conditions==
* [[Cystic fibrosis]]
* [[Kallmann syndrome]]
* [[Zinc#Zinc deficiency|Zinc deficiency]]
* [[Parkinson's disease]]
* [[Alzheimer's disease]]
* [[Cadmium Poisoning]]
* [[Holoprosencephaly]]
* [[Allergies]]
* [[primary amoebic meningoencephalitis]] caused by [[Naegleria fowleri]]
* [[Refsum disease]]
* [[CHARGE syndrome]]
{{incomplete-list}}
==See also==
* [[Parosmia]]
==Notable anosmiacs==
*[[Mary Baker Eddy]]
*[[Scott Kurtz]]
*[[Arjen Anthony Lucassen]]
*[[Bill Pullman]]
*[[Simon Tatham]]
*[[Benjamin Urrutia]]
*[[Stevie Wonder]]
*[[William Wordsworth]]
*[[Michael Hutchence]]
*"Anosmia" is a band from Wellington in [[New Zealand]]; the band's vocalist has no sense of smell.
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[http://www.anosmia-blog.blogspot.com Anosmia Blog]
*[http://www.anosmiafoundation.org Anosmia Foundation]
*http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic748.htm
*[http://www.anosmia.net/ The Congenital Anosmia Forums]
*[http://www.scienceofsmell.com/scienceofsmell/index.cfm?action=promo&pc=sathome3 The Smell and Taste Treatment & Research Foundation]
{{Cognition, perception, emotional state and behaviour symptoms and signs}}
[[Category:Olfactory system]]
[[Category:Neurological disorders]]
[[de:Anosmie]]
[[es:Anosmia]]
[[eo:Anosmio]]
[[fr:Anosmie]]
[[hr:Anosmija]]
[[io:Anosmio]]
[[it:Disosmia]]
[[he:תתרנות]]
[[lb:Anosmie]]
[[nl:Dysosmie]]
[[pl:Anosmia]]
[[pt:Anosmia]]
[[ru:Аносмия]]
[[sr:Аносмија]]
[[fi:Anosmia]]
[[sv:Anosmi]]
[[ur:لاشامہ]]