Clinical Analysis of Olfactory Disorders

Dhong, Hun Jong; Shin, Dong Bong; Rho, Hyoung Il; Chung, Seung Kyu; Chu, Kwang Chol

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The sense of smell is indispensable for men to appreciate food flavors and avoid potential dangers, such as spoiled foods, smoke, and gases. Despite these important roles, there have been only a few studies investigating the cause and nature of olfactory disorders. In this study, we investigated clinical aspects of olfactory disorders.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The demographic, medical, and chemosensory data of 497 patients who visited clinics complaining of smell loss were retrospectively analyzed with medical charts and a questionnaire. The statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and chi-square test to compare several variables of data.
RESULTS
Nasal and paranasal sinus disease, upper respiratory tract infection, idiopathic, and head trauma were the major causes of smell loss. The onset of smell loss, the distribution of gender and age, the incidence and severity of olfactory loss with gustatory dysfunction differed among causal groups. The association of olfactory score with allergies in nasal diseases was not noted in this study. In addition, the presence of intranasal polyp affected the severity of olfactory dysfunction, but we could not see this effect in patients who had the history of sinonasal surgery.
CONCLUSION
We recommend that physicians have to consider many clinical aspects including the cause and nature of olfactory loss to treat patients with chemosensory dysfunction effectively.