Common "Loss Of Smell" queries answered by top doctors | iCliniq

Loss Of Smell

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 »


Dr. Afifa Nighat

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 »

Can an inflamed sinus and nasal polyps affect the sense of smell?

Query: Hello doctor, After a severe cold including heavy sneezing, runny nose that lasted 3 to 4 weeks, I seem to have gradually lost my sense of smell. To clear this severe cold I had to take Avamys. A couple of doctors I consulted said my nose and sinus seem to be inflammed, and there are some polyps in ...  Read Full »


Dr. Mohammed Osama Aboborda

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. It seems that you have allergic rhinitis with polyposis. The loss of smell sensation with you can be because of the polyps which prevent the air to reach the olfactory mucosa in the roof of your nose or because of a viral attack. I advise you to take antiviral medicine as...  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 »


Dr. Alok Rathi

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 i...  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 post viral or postsurgical. Because olfactory nerve endings are...  Read Full »

I have been experiencing loss of taste and smell for the past eight months. Please help.

Query: Hello doctor, I am an otherwise healthy 23-year-old male. But eight months ago, I lost my sense of taste and smell with no other symptoms at the time besides those two. About a month ago, however, I got my eyes tested and found out I had dry eyes. I have already had Covid-19 about two years ago and ...  Read Full »


Dr. Oliyath Ali

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. Impaired sense of smell is of two types, conductive and sensorineural. Conductive is when the source of smell that is the particles are not able to reach the olfactory area in the roof of the nose due to some blockage in the nose. Sensorineural ...  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 »


Dr. Ranjit Peter

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 (e...  Read Full »

Can I get my sense of smell back after sinusitis, or will it be permanently damaged?

Query: Hello doctor, I have had symptoms of chronic sinusitis without polyps for 24 months now. My ENT said I had mild to moderate sinusitis. My symptoms were congestion, eustachian tube dysfunction, a weak sense of smell, postnasal drip, and severe pain. I have been using Budesonide rinses twice daily, an...  Read Full »


Dr. Ranjit Peter

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Based on your clinical history and response to therapy, we can expect some improvement in the sense of smell. The fact that there is some sense of smell is favorable. However, it would be beneficial to know the status of your sinuses in terms of persistent disease afte...  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 causing...  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 »


Dr. Arpit Varshney

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 start tre...  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 »


Dr. Basuki Nath Bhagat

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 »

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