The complete loss of smell is known as anosmia.
Anosmia is the total loss of smell . This sense refers to the ability to perceive odors. When the reduction of said capacity is not absolute, but partial, we speak of hyposmia (a term that is not recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy in its dictionary).
Anosmia can be chronic (if it persists over time ) or only temporary (the disability does not last). On the other hand, it is possible to refer to specific anosmia , which only prevents the detection of certain aromas.
Diagnosis and treatment of anosmia
To diagnose anosmia, doctors often have patients smell different fragrances. This way they can know if they perceive the aroma or if, on the contrary, they cannot register it.
If the person is born with anosmia, it is called congenital anosmia . There is the possibility that the individual is born with a normal olfactory ability and, over time, loses it due to illness, infection, surgery or other cause.
Although certain anosmias cannot be treated, others can be reversed with the use of corticosteroids . The objective is to minimize the inflammation of the mucous membranes that prevents the normal functioning of the sense of smell.
Anosmia can be congenital.
Its effects
When a human being suffers from anosmia, they suffer from various disorders. These people have difficulties distinguishing the taste of food since, although the tongue is responsible for detecting whether it is an acidic, bitter, salty or sweet food, it is the sense of smell that is responsible for recognizing all the other nuances. Anosmia also prevents the individual from noticing a gas leak, for example.
People who enjoy good general health from a young age are often not aware of the impact that a condition such as anosmia can have on their lives. Human beings are generally more concerned about conditions such as blindness or paralysis, because we believe that we depend more on our legs and our sight than, for example, our sense of smell.
However, if we focus on the fact that anosmia can not only prevent us from enjoying food and the aroma of flowers, but it can also lead us to ignore a gas leak or a fire that is taking place in our own home. Needless to say, it is not a mild illness.
Conditions linked to anosmia
There are certain conditions that are related to anosmia, although their symptoms are different or even opposite. Let's look at three examples below:
- Hyperosmia : this is a greater capacity for olfactory perception than normal, which in turn leads to more efficient detection of flavors . It is important to note that, despite its relationship with anosmia and hyposmia, this phenomenon is much less common. Among the most common types of causes are environmental, genetic, consumption of certain drugs or even pregnancy (in these last two cases, hyperosmia occurs temporarily).
- Parosmia : it is a condition characterized by the inability to identify the intrinsic or natural odor of different objects, due to a deterioration of the sense of smell. In short, a person with this disorder perceives certain odors in a distorted, generally unpleasant way. Some of the causes of perosmia are upper respiratory infections, epilepsy, head trauma , and Parkinson 's disease.
- Phantosmia : this disease leads the person to perceive odors that are not present, both pleasant, unpleasant or worrying, such as the aroma of flowers or the smell of burning. Statistics indicate that this disorder can disappear over time, although it can also be treated with medical help. Although it is not a serious condition in itself, it is often accompanied by problems such as brain tumors, Parkinson's disease or schizophrenia , among others.