This book describes Anosmia, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

Since the start of Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of infected Covid-19 patients have developed the loss of smell or anosmia.

Anosmia is the partial (hyposmia) or total loss of the sense of smell.

This loss of the sense of smell may be temporary or permanent.

While some persons have anosmia by birth, others may slowly lose the sensation to smell.

Frequent disorders that irritate the nose’s lining, such as allergies or a cold, can cause temporary anosmia.

Anosmia normally is not serious, but it can have an intense effect on a person’s quality of life.

People with anosmia may not be able to totally taste foods and may lose their interest in eating.

This can cause weight loss or malnutrition.

Anosmia can also result in depression since it may reduce one’s ability to smell or taste pleasurable foods.

More serious disorders that affect the brain or nerves, such as brain tumors or head trauma, can produce permanent loss of smell.

Old age occasionally produces anosmia.

When a person sniffs on something, air entering the nose containing the odor molecules comes in contact with the olfactory nerve endings accountable for the sense of smell.

These nerves are present on the nasal epithelium internally.

When stimulated by odor molecules, these nerves transmit signals to the brain.

Upon arrival in the brain, it processes this olfactory information and interprets it into an odor that the person can identify.

One of the most frequent causes of anosmia is nasal congestion that often happens due to a cold, sinus infection, allergy, or bad air quality.

Anosmia is often produced by a swelling or blockage in the nose that stops odors from getting to the top of the nose.

Blockage of the nasal passages

Loss of smell can happen if something is physically blocking the passage of air into the nose:

Sinonasal tumors

Nasal polyps – minor noncancerous progressions in the nose and sinuses, blocking the nasal passage.

Bone deformities within the nose or a crooked nasal septum

Irritation to the mucus membranes lining the nose

Sinus infections

Common colds

Smoking

Influenza

Allergies (allergic rhinitis)

Chronic congestion not related to allergies (non-allergic rhinitis)

COVID-19

A cold is the most frequent cause of partial and temporary loss of smell.

In these cases, the anosmia will depart on its own.

Brain or Nerve Damage:

When the pathways through which receptors present inside the nose transmit signals through the nerves to the brain are injured, they produce loss of sense of smell.

Brain or head injury

Old age - sense of smell, vision, hearing weaken with time

High blood pressure medicines

Brain surgery

Long-term alcoholism

Stroke

Brain tumors

Illicit drugs (cocaine) and toxins

In rare cases, people are born without a sense of smell due to a genetic disorder.

The primary symptom of anosmia is the loss of smell.

Persons born with anosmia may not even recognize they have it.

The loss of smell can be an early sign of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.

Anosmia is normally diagnosed by:

CT scans

MRI scans

X-ray of the skull

Nasal endoscopy to look inside the nose

The treatments that may help resolve anosmias produced by nasal irritation are:

Decongestants

Antihistamines

Steroid nasal sprays

Antibiotics

Decreasing exposure to nasal irritants

The best treatment is to use a professional scent therapy program

TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction

Chapter 1 Anosmia

Chapter 2 Causes

Chapter 3 Symptoms

Chapter 4 Diagnosis

Chapter 5 Treatment

Chapter 6 Prognosis

Chapter 7 Hyperesthesia

Chapter 8 Pruritis

Epilogue