[Anosmia secondary to acute rhinitis: clinical signs and course in a series of 118 patients]

Ann Otolaryngol Chir Cervicofac. 1999 Dec;116(6):351-7.
[Article in French]

Abstract

We report here a series of 118 patients (79% women) who developed dysomia after acute rhinitis. Mean age was 59 years. Mean follow-up after the initial rhinal episode was 36 months. The dominant olfactory disorder was anosmia (71% of the patients) and dysgeusia in 71%. The prognosis of anosmia was poor as it persisted in 50% of the patients. Six patients (5%) recovered normal olfaction after a delay of 11 months. Partial recovery was observed in 45% of the patients with a mean 14-month delay. Recovery of olfaction was thus observed within the first year. Parosmia was also frequent (59% of the patients). In two out of three cases, parosmia persisted. Improvement generally occurred during the first 18 months. These olfactory disorders have an impact on the patients' psychic equilibrim since a depressive syndrome was observed in 60% of the cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / etiology
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Olfaction Disorders / drug therapy
  • Olfaction Disorders / etiology*
  • Olfaction Disorders / psychology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Rhinitis / complications*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Time Factors
  • Vitamin B Complex / therapeutic use
  • Zinc / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Vitamin B Complex
  • Zinc