When the sense of smell is lost, it is referred to as anosmia. Loss of smell is a symptom of common cold, sinusitis, nasal polyp, upper respiratory infection, and nasal septum deviation. Loss of smell and loss of taste are closely interlinked. In fact, loss of smell can affect the sense of taste.
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When does cytokine storm occur?
Query: Hi doctor, Before a week, I started feeling bad with dry cough and fever. I had these symptoms for three days. After that, my dry cough became a productive cough. My fever got disappeared. Instead of it, I lost my smell and I developed a tiny pain in my throat. During this period, I took antibiot... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. There is a possibility for you to have COVID-19 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) as you had some typical symptoms such as fever and loss of smell initially. As a week passed already, you have entered into a comparatively safer zone. It means that there ... Read Full »
My smell sensation gets weak after a few minutes. Is it common, or do I have any disease?
Query: Hi doctor,Do you have many patients with a degree of permanent loss of smell, or is it far more common for it to return to normal levels? Is it still the disease process keeping the sense of smell weak, or is it from neuronal loss which must recover? Sometimes smell increases for a few minutes but t... Read Full »
Dr. Syed Peerzada Tehmid Ul Haque
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. The olfactory dysfunction associated with chronic rhinosinusitis is more likely to improve and has a better prognosis than those associated with other causes like trauma or postviral or postsurgical. Because olfactory nerve endings are more... Read Full »
What can be the reason for the diminished sense of smell?
Query: Hi doctor. I think my sensitivity to smell has reduced. I can properly smell once later, but the scent is diminished. I know it is not due to COVID because I have done many tests over the past three weeks. Three weeks back, I had nasal congestion, and I could not smell anything, but now it is fine. ... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to iCliniq.com. Based on what you have shared, I understand that you have been having a reduced sense of smell for more than three weeks. Yes, nasal congestion can cause a reduced sense of smell; however, in the presence of blood-stained discharge, it would be prudent to get an ENT ... Read Full »
I got dry flu and I cannot sense any taste, smell or temperature changes. What could be the cause?
Query: Hi doctor, I have been having some sudden health issues. I got dry flu. And I lost my sense of smell and taste. And I went to the hospital for a COVID test, and my COVID test reports were negative. Now I cannot feel any smell or taste, including my other senses are lost like now in winter I cannot f... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have read your concern in detail and will surely help you out. Loss of taste and smell is not necessarily due to COVID. It can be due to a blocked nose, sinusitis, and diabetes. Let me assure you that this is not something that cannot be cured. I suggest starting ... Read Full »
I have chronic sinusitis without polyps. Will my sense of smell eventually return or improve?
Query: Hello doctor, I was diagnosed with chronic sinusitis without polyps two years back. Then, I had congestion, pain, throbbing, postnasal drip, weak sense of smell and taste, dizziness, cough, tinnitus in my left ear, and eustachian tube dysfunction. My ENT suggested me to undergo a CT scan and scope. ... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Good to know that your symptoms have resolved. Most likely, you had an acute attack of sinusitis which has resolved now. I suggest you to follow the instructions mentioned below to improve your sense of smell. 1. Smell training videos can be found online. 2. Omega 3,... Read Full »
Query: Hi doctor, I had a tonsillectomy and uvulectomy three months ago. I still have no taste and little smell. I often have a metallic taste in my mouth. When I eat a certain foods, it feels stuck in my throat. Is this normal? I have fallen into a deep depression. I got the surgery because my tonsils hav... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. Taste disturbance (dysgeusia) or decreased taste sensation after tonsillectomy is a rare complication. But nothing to be worried about. It will recover after some time. You can try Zinc supplements for a faster recovery. As far as the othe... Read Full »
Why is there a loss of taste and smell after a head injury?
Query: Hi doctor, I met with a bus accident three months ago, and due to this, I had a head and neck injury. I, later on, discovered that I lost my sense of smell. It did affect my taste buds too. I can only taste salt and spice. I started feeling like I am choking on food substances (most times, it feels... Read Full »
Dr. Bhadragiri Vageesh Padiyar
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thanks for explaining in detail regarding the problem in concern. Loss of smell post head injury is mostly due to damage to the olfactory region due to trauma. As a result, the uptake of odor molecules and their effective transmission to the brain will be hampered causi... Read Full »
I cannot detect any smell and I can taste a little. What could be the cause?
Query: Hi doctor,I am 20 years old. About eight months ago, I had a cough that lasted for two weeks. Now I do not have a nasal blockage. But I cannot detect any smell and I can taste a little. I can smell only when the substance is very close to the nose. Please help me with the cure.Thank you. Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Sorry for the discomfort. Loss of smell can occur due to cold or flu, nasal infection, or allergic rhinitis. However, once the cause is treated, the smell and taste sensation will return. I suggest some home remedies you can try which might help smell and taste back o... Read Full »
Will the sense of smell return to normal after sinusitis?
Query: Hello doctor,I was diagnosed with chronic sinusitis without polyps 23 months ago. I had congestion, pain, pressure, loss of smell and taste, tinnitus, cough, dizziness, and eustachian tube dysfunction when it first started. My ENT said that my maxillary and ethmoid sinuses were affected, and there i... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. You will be much better with the treatment that you are presently taking. It will take at least one month for the symptoms to subside. However, the sense of smell is slightly unpredictable at this stage. If these conditions are complicated with COVID-19 (Co... Read Full »
When will I get my sense of smell back after chronic sinusitis?
Query: Hello doctor, I have had symptoms of chronic sinusitis. My symptoms were congestion, weak sense of smell, post nasal drip, and severe pain. I have been using Budesonide rinses twice daily and all my symptoms are gone except weak sense of smell. Will my sense of smell come back? Thank you. Read Full »
Answer: Hi,Welcome to icliniq.com.The sense of smell is felt only when the olfactory nerve endings sitting at the top of the nose are accessible and receive aromatic vapors from the air we breathe. In Chronic rhinosinusitis, the anatomical changes in the nose can affect the air reaching the top, which is th... Read Full »