What Are The Most Common Smell Disorders?

Certain factors such as pregnancy, dental problems, and certain medications can significantly alter the ability to correctly perceive odors.

The most common smell disorders are anosmia, hyposmia, parosmia, and phantosmia. They are little known names to most people, since, in general, they are not recurrent or widespread disorders within the population.

Be that as it may, the most common smell alterations reduce quality of life. The possibility of perceiving odors not only influences the ability to detect flavors, but also constitutes a way to detect warning signs in the face of dangerous situations.

Based on available research, the most common smell disturbances occur more frequently among the elderly. Thus, it is estimated that almost a quarter of men between the ages of 60 and 69 have one of these disorders. In women the proportion is 11%.

The sense of smell

The sense of smell is a complex and unique structure. Along with taste, it is part of the chemical-sensory system. It works thanks to the presence of specialized cells called olfactory sensory neurons. They are found at the top of the nose and are connected to the brain.

Smells reach these neurons in two ways. The first is the nostrils, which pick up an odor directly. The second is the channel that connects the upper area of ​​the throat with the nose. That is why when eating aromas are also perceived.

When the system locks up for any reason, the ability to properly perceive odors is lost. This affects the sense of taste: the flavors are not perceived properly either. And it can be dangerous, since, for example, a gas leak is not detected, or an unexpected combustion, etc.

Classification of the most common smell disorders

First of all, it must be said that, in general, the most common smell alterations affect the perception of all types of odors. Only in very rare cases is a single odor affected. There is no universal classification for the most common smell disturbances. However, what is usually accepted is that it be classified as follows:

• Quantitative anomalies. They are those that have to do with the decrease, increase or elimination in the perception of odors. They basically comprise hyposmia, anosmia and hyperosmia.
• Qualitative anomalies. They are characterized by distortion or illusion in olfactory perception. The main ones are parosmia, dysosmia, cacosmia and osmophobia.

In turn, quantitative olfactory disorders are classified as :

• Transmission disorders. When there is obstruction or obstruction of the airway that prevents the arrival of the stimuli to the chemolulfatory receptors.
• Perceptual disorders. When what is affected is the nerve pathway that transmits olfactory stimuli.

• Mixed disorders. It is a combination of the previous two.

Anosmia and hyposmia

The most common smell disorders are anosmia and hyposmia. Anosmia refers to a total difficulty in perceiving odors. When the loss of this ability is only partial, it is called hyposmia.

Anosmia is almost always a consequence of obstructive airway diseases, infections in the airways, or head trauma. Thus, in very few cases it is the result of a hereditary condition.

Thus, anosmias are classified into: anosmia of nasal, olfactory epithelial and central origin. This classification is related to where the problem originates. As already indicated, hyposmia has the same characteristics, but does not result in a total loss of the ability to perceive odors.

Other disorders

Another of the most common smell disorders is parosmia. This corresponds to the perception of an odor that does not exist, or the erroneous capture of an odor. The perception of a non-existent odor is also commonly called “olfactory hallucination.”

Olfactory hallucinations occur when there are diseases that affect the central nervous system, such as syphilis, brain tumors, or diabetes. They can also occur during pregnancy, as an effect of hormonal changes.

For its part, the erroneous capture of odors occurs when there are foreign bodies in the nose. Also in case of chronic sinusitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis and in some liver or gastric diseases. Most of these disorders are treatable and curable.