Loss of sense of smell and often taste with infection and other illness?

The loss of smell (also known as anosmia) is essential to human life in terms of safety. In addition, the loss of smell is closely related to the loss of taste. These two components are interoperable in their perception.

We divide it into congenital and acquired loss of smell.

The congenital loss of smell is the one that a person is born with. It is probably caused by premature birth and immaturity of the olfactory cells. It may also be a factor of heredity.

Acquired loss of sense of smell occurs during a person's lifetime and its cause can be manifold. It is a sign of minor, minor or even serious diseases. Although loss of sense of smell is a minor handicap compared to the loss of other senses, it limits a person in certain ways.

You often ask:
Why did I lose my sense of smell and taste?
What could be the causes?

There can be several causes. For example, it can be a blockage of the nose in a respiratory disease of the upper respiratory tract. But the causes can also be disease processes, when a person loses the sensitivity of smell due to some pathological changes in the body.

The sense of smell is one of the most important senses a person possesses and can help prevent various complications, especially food or chemical poisoning when ingested by mouth or inhalation.

Loss of sense of smell in flu and rhinitis, but also the new coronavirus covid-19

Often the loss of sense of smell is only temporary and accompanies several upper respiratory tract diseases. For example, it may be a cold with flu, accompanied by a full nose and frequent sniffling.

This creates an obstacle to the person's ability to perceive smells or other stimuli.

Similarly, sinusitis also occurs. The nose is full of mucus and this forms an obstruction in the nasal cavity. As a result, air containing odours cannot reach the olfactory cells, causing loss of smell.

The loss of smell and taste is one of the first possible symptoms of infection with the new coronavirus, which causes the disease covid-19 in humans. However, it is usually mild. Seniors with several long-term illnesses and people with weakened immunity are particularly at risk.

Read more in the section Coronavirus - covid-19.

Other diseases that cause anosmia

Nasal polyps are a more severe disease. In this case too, the loss of smell is caused by an obstruction, i.e. a blockage in the nose. Polyps can plague the affected person for a long time, especially with various forms of mucus that make life unpleasant.

Treatment in this case is also more demanding than in the case of the common cold. It is carried out with a nasal spray containing corticosteroids or tablets. Should this method not help, surgical removal of the polyps follows.

Unilateral disturbance and loss of smell occurs for more serious reasons. It may be related to tumours in the nasal cavity or brain. In this case, it is necessary to see a specialist as soon as possible.

Often, unilateral, but also total loss of smell occurs due to various injuries or traumatic factors. The structure or function of the olfactory nerve may be disturbed. It also occurs with injury to the frontal bone or the lower frontal fossa of the skull.

In some cases, the loss occurs after a brain injury.

It may also be only temporary, such as with a concussion. Permanent loss occurs when the olfactory nerve or the centre for the perception of smell is disrupted, i.e. when the brain is damaged.

In the short term, a person may lose his or her sense of smell, for example, during an epileptic seizure. Sometimes he or she may perceive smells differently than normal during this seizure. Sometimes problems with the sense of smell are also caused by fluctuations in hormone levels, for example in women.

There have also been reported cases where olfactory perception has been impaired after taking certain antibiotics. Prolonged exposure of the olfactory receptors to, for example, dangerous gases or chemically polluted environments can also have an adverse effect.

The worst is when a person loses their sense of smell due to nerve damage and disease. Loss of smell can also be one of the first symptoms of Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease, for example.

Both diseases fall under the nervous system. They cause loss of brain cells and disorders in the nervous system.

In the case of partial or complete loss of smell, it is important to note the circumstances of the onset and the duration of the disorder. It is also important to note whether the loss of smell is bilateral or only on one side. The causes may be less serious, but can also be severe.

In any case, a professional examination by an ENT specialist is recommended.