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Smell and Taste Disorders

Beth K. Mazyck, MD and Daniel B. Kurtz, BS, PhD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Physiologically, the senses of smell and taste aid in normal digestion by triggering GI secretions.

  • Loss of smell occurs more frequently than loss of taste, and patients frequently co...

DIAGNOSIS

Smell and taste disturbances are symptoms; it is essential to look for possible underlying causes. 

HISTORY

  • Symptoms of URI, environmental allergies

  • Fever, cough, sore throat suggestive of COVI...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Appropriate treatment for underlying cause

  • Quit smoking.

  • Treatment of underlying nasal congestion with nasal decongestants and/or nasal/oral steroids (10)[B]

  • Surgical correctio...

ONGOING CARE

DIET

  • Weight gain/loss is possible because the patient may reject food or may switch to calorie-rich foods that are still palatable.

  • Ensure a nutritionally balanced diet with appropriate lev...

REFERENCES

1
Spinato G, Fabbris C, Polesel J, et al. Alterations in smell or taste in mildly symptomatic outpatients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. JAMA. 2020;323(20):2089-2090.
2
Menni C, Valdes AM, Freidin...

CODES

ICD10

  • R43.9 Unspecified disturbances of smell and taste

  • R43.1 Parosmia

  • R43.2 Parageusia

  • R43.0 Anosmia

  • R43.8 Other disturbances of smell and taste

SNOMED

  • 275462005 disorders of smell (disorder)

  • 399993004...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Smell loss is often the first and only symptom of mild cases of COVID-19.

  • Smell disorders are often mistaken as decreased taste by patients.

  • Most temporary smell loss is due to nasal pas...

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