Anosmia
Inability to smell / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Anosmia, also known as smell blindness, is the loss of the ability to detect one or more smells.[1][2] Anosmia may be temporary or permanent.[3] It differs from hyposmia, which is a decreased sensitivity to some or all smells.[2]
Anosmia | |
---|---|
Other names | Loss of smell, smell blindness,[1] odor blindness |
Inflamed nasal mucosa causing anosmia | |
Pronunciation | |
Specialty | Otorhinolaryngology |
Types | Partial, total[2] |
Anosmia can be due to a number of factors, including inflammation of the nasal mucosa, blockage of nasal passages, or destruction of temporal lobular tissue.[4] Anosmia stemming from sinus inflammation is due to chronic mucosal changes in the lining of the paranasal sinus and in the middle and superior turbinates.[5][6]
When anosmia is caused by inflammatory changes in the nasal passageways, it is treated simply by reducing inflammation.[7][8] It can be caused by chronic meningitis and neurosyphilis that would increase intracranial pressure over a long period of time,[9] and, in some cases, by ciliopathy,[10] including ciliopathy due to primary ciliary dyskinesia.[11]
The term derives from the Neo-Latin anosmia, based on Ancient Greek ἀν- (an-) + ὀσμή (osmḗ 'smell'; another related term, hyperosmia, refers to an increased ability to smell). Some people may be anosmic for one particular odor, a condition known as "specific anosmia". The absence of the sense of smell from birth is known as congenital anosmia.[12]
In the United States, 3% of people aged over 40 are affected by anosmia.[3]
Anosmia is a common symptom of COVID-19 and can persist as long COVID.[13]