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Symptoms » Loss of smell

Loss of smell

Loss of smell:

Loss of smell: Introduction

Loss of smell: Loss of the sense of smell. See detailed information below for a list of 67 causes of Loss of smell, Symptom Checker, Assessment Questionnaire, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

» Review Causes of Loss of smell: Causes | Symptom Checker » | Assessment Questionnaire »

Causes of Loss of smell:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Loss of smell. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

Physical changes to the nose:
- Normal aging - gradually reduces the sense of smell and taste.
- Recent upper respiratory infection
- Rhinitis
- Stuffy nose
- Common cold
- Allergies
- Hay fever
- Vasomotor rhinitis
- Allergic rhinitis
- Nose foreign body
- Sinus infection
- Sinusitis
- Nasal polyps
- Nasal blockage
- Nasal tumor
- Mouth breathing (see Breathing symptoms)
Toxic damage to the nose:
- Smoking
- Tobacco smoke exposure
- Formaldehyde
- Acid exposure
- Certain chemicals
- Nasal decongestants
Damage to the brain or nervous processing of smell:
more causes...»

See full list of 67 causes of Loss of smell

» Review Causes of Loss of smell: Causes | Symptom Checker » | Assessment Questionnaire »

Causes of Types of Loss of smell:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Loss of smell:

Reduced sense of smell (15 causes)
more types...»

See full list of 3 types for Loss of smell

Loss of smell: Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Loss of smell, as listed in our database. Visit the Symptom Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Symptom Checker

Loss of smell: Symptom Checker

Symptom Checker

See full list of 501 Symptom Checkers for Loss of smell

Loss of smell Treatments

Review further information on Loss of smell Treatments.

Stories from Users for Loss of smell

Real-life user stories relating to Loss of smell:

Message Boards for Loss of smell

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Loss of smell or relevant symptoms:

ENMT (Ears, Nose, Mouth and Throat) (656)

Diagnostic tests for Loss of smell:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Loss of smell. Some of these are listed below :

Physical examination
- Inspection of the mouth, sinuses, nose, pharynx and ears
- Examine for a swollen nasal lining which can interfere with the sense of smell. Swollen nasal lining may be due to acute viral upper respiratory infection, herpes simplex, viral hepatitis, bacterial rhinitis, sinusitis or allergic rhinitis
- Examine for structural changes in the nasal cavity which can interfere with sense of smell. Structural changes in the nasal cavity may be due to deviations of the nasal septum, polyps, nasal tumors
- Nervous system examination including cranial nerve examination. If abnormalities are found must consider multiple sclerosis, parietal lobe brain tumor or olfactory grove meningioma ( benign tumor of the lining of the brain in the region of the lower surface of the frontal lobe of the brain)
Radiological investigations
more tests...»

See full list of 22 diagnostic tests for Loss of smell

Medications or substances causing Loss of smell:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Loss of smell as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

Thyroid medications
Certain chemicals
Formaldehyde
Acid exposure
Nasal decongestants
more causes...»

See full list of 5 medications causing Loss of smell

Loss of smell: Comorbid Symptoms

Some of the comorbid or associated medical symptoms for Loss of smell may include these symptoms:

See all associated comorbid symptoms for Loss of smell

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

Nose symptoms (2080 causes)
Smell symptoms (38 causes)
Head symptoms (10192 causes)
Face symptoms (8109 causes)
Sense of smell symptoms (38 causes)
Sensory symptoms (7134 causes)
Nerve symptoms (9132 causes)
Neurological symptoms (9575 causes)
Pain (6458 causes)
Sensations (6520 causes)
Throat symptoms (3410 causes)
Brain symptoms (2787 causes)
Respiratory symptoms (5166 causes)
Mouth symptoms (6864 causes)
Common symptoms (8589 causes)
Body symptoms (5672 causes)
more symptoms...»

Research the causes of this symptom in broader categories:

Research the causes of related medical symptoms such as:

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Loss of smell

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Loss of smell:

Nose symptoms (2080 causes)
Odor symptoms (148 causes)
Rhinitis
Stuffy nose (106 causes)
Common cold (712 causes)
Allergies
Hay fever (16 causes)
Vasomotor rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis (19 causes)
Nose foreign body
Sinus infection (24 causes)
Sinusitis (319 causes)
Nasal polyps (31 causes)
more symptoms...»

Assessment Questionnaire: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques to assess the symptom: Loss of smell. These will include a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. (Note: A physical exam is always done, diagnostic tests may or may not be performed depending on the suspected condition) Your doctor will ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to openly share any pertinent information to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.

It is also very important to bring an up-to-date list of all of your all medical conditions, medications including dosages, and names of numbers of any specialist you see.

Create your printable checklist here.

See Loss of smell Assessment Questionnaire (31 listings)

Loss of smell: Deaths

Read more about causes and Loss of smell deaths.

Loss of smell: Research Related Doctors & Specialists

Face / Facial / Oral Health Specialists:
more specialists...»

Other ways to find a doctor, or use doctor, physician and specialist online research services:

Organs affected by Loss of smell:

The list of organs typically affected by Loss of smell may include, but is not limited to:

Detailed list of causes of Loss of smell

The list below shows some of the causes of Loss of smell mentioned in various sources:

Acid exposure
Allergic rhinitis
Allergies
Alopecia, anosmia, deafness, hypogonadism syndrome - lack of sense of smell
Alzheimer's disease
more causes...»

See full list of 67 causes of Loss of smell

How Common are these Causes of Loss of smell?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Loss of smell. Of the 67 causes of Loss of smell that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

7 causes are "very common" diseases
3 causes are "common" diseases
3 causes are "uncommon" diseases
1 causes are "rare" diseases
0 causes are "very rare" diseases
61 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 67 causes of Loss of smell

Conditions listing medical symptoms: Loss of smell:

The following list of conditions have 'Loss of smell' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Loss of smell or choose View All.

View All A B C D F H I K M N O P R S T V

A

Alopecia, anosmia, deafness, hypogonadism syndrome ... lack of sense of smell
Anosmia ... reduced sense of smell
Arhinia, choanal atresia, and microphthalmia ... inability to smell
Arhinia-choanal atresia-microphthalmia syndrome ... inability to smell
Arrhinia ... inability to smell
Atrophic rhinitis ... loss of smell

B

Bosma-Henkin-Christiansen syndrome ... reduced sense of smell

C

Cadmium poisoning ... lack of sense of smell
Chemical poisoning -- Selenium ... reduced sense of smell
Chemical poisoning -- Silver ... reduced sense of smell
Congenital anosmia ... inability to smell
Cortical hyperostosis-syndactyly ... lack of sense of smell

D

Dextrocardia-bronchiectasis-sinusitis ... lack of sense of smell

H

Holoprosencephaly -- ectrodactyly -- cleft lip/palate ... lack of sense of smell
Hurst-Hallam-Hockey syndrome ... lack of sense of smell
Hypopituitarism -- micropenis -- cleft lip palate ... reduced sense of smell, absent sense of smell

I

Ichthyosis male hypogonadism ... lack of sense of smell

K

Kallmann Syndrome ... reduced sense of smell, absent sense of smell
Kallmann syndrome 2 ... reduced sense of smell, absent sense of smell
Kallmann syndrome, type 1, X-linked ... reduced sense of smell, absent sense of smell
Kallmann syndrome, type 3, recessive ... reduced sense of smell, absent sense of smell
Kallmann syndrome, type 4 ... reduced sense of smell, absent sense of smell