Smell sense, loss of

Safety

If you have anosmia, you'll need to take special precautions because you won't be able to smell fires, poisonous fumes, leaking gas or food that has gone off.

It's recommended that you:

install smoke alarms in all areas of the home , especially in the kitchen and near the fireplace
change from natural gas appliances to electric or consider installing a natural gas detector
clearly mark expiry dates on food and mark leftovers with dates, so you know when to throw them away
carefully read warning labels on products such as bathroom and kitchen cleaners, and insecticides , to be aware of potent chemicals

Some people with anosmia also experience a loss of appetite, but it's important to maintain your nutrition levels. It may help to set reminders for mealtimes and weigh yourself regularly to ensure you stay healthy.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for smell sense, loss of

Introduction

Anosmia is the medical term for loss of the sense of smell. It's usually caused by a nasal condition or brain injury, but some people are born without a sense of smell (congenital anosmia)

Seeing your GP

Your GP will want to take your full medical history, examine the inside of your nose and take a blood sample for testing in a laboratory. Your doctor may refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) sp

What are the causes?

There are several medical conditions and medications associated with a loss of smell. The possible causes include: a viral infection affecting the upper respiratory tract , such as a cold persis

Can anosmia be cured?

Whether or not anosmia can be cured depends on the underlying cause. People with congenital anosmia have a lifelong inability to smell and have no concept of what a smell even is. Currently, there's

Safety

If you have anosmia, you'll need to take special precautions because you won't be able to smell fires, poisonous fumes, leaking gas or food that has gone off. It's recommended that you: install sm

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