Imagine, you are at home and suddenly you smell something burning. You ask everyone in the house, "Is something burning?" But they say, "No, we don't smell anything." Have you ever had an experience like this? In medicine, we call this the sensation of smelling something that is not really there, but only to you. In simple terms, it is a kind of illusion that affects our sense of smell.
What kind of smell does this smell like?
The sense of smell that a person with `phantosmia` perceives can vary from person to person. Some people may perceive very fragrant, pleasant smells. While many people perceive unpleasant, foul odors.
These people describe this smell in words like this:
- "Something smells like burning ."
- "A very bad, unpleasant smell "
- "Something rotten smells "
- " It smells like a cesspool ."
- " It smells like a chemical. "
This smell may be felt in both nostrils or only in one. And it is not always there. Most of the time, this smell seems to come and go .
Why is this happening? What are the reasons?
Okay, now let's see why this happens. According to experts, there are several reasons why these nasal " hallucinations " can occur.
Here are some of the main reasons:
- Head injury: Damage to the brain caused by a blow to the head or other accident.
- Upper Respiratory Infection : Simply put, something like a bad cold or sinus infection.
- Seizures in the temporal lobe of the brain: This is a type of epilepsy.
- Sinus infection: Infections in the cavities around the nose.
- Parkinson 's disease: A condition that affects the nervous system.
- Covid-19 (COVID-19) infection: Recently, Covid-19 has been identified as the main cause of this condition.
The most important thing is that if you have any of these symptoms, you should definitely talk to your doctor about them . Because sometimes they can be a sign of a serious underlying condition, such as a brain tumor. That's why it's important to get checked out by a doctor.
What is the difference between Phantosmia and Parosmia?
There is another condition that is somewhat similar to ` Phantosmia` , but different, called `Parosmia`. It is important to understand the difference between the two.
- Phantosmia: What happens here is that you smell a smell that is not actually in the environment .
- Parosmia: What happens here is that you perceive a smell that is actually in the environment in a different, distorted way.
For example, if you smell something like rotten meat when you look at a banana, that's parosmia . But if you smell something like burnt food when there's nothing in the room, that's phantosmia. Parosmia can also often be caused by damage to the nasal tissues after a bad cold.
Covid-19 and this sense of smell issue
You may recall that many people infected with the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) have lost their sense of smell and taste. There have also been reports of a link between COVID-19 and `Phantosmia`. Some patients have described a "burnt toast smell" while others have described a strange odor that is difficult to describe.
Some people recover from COVID-19 and their sense of smell returns to normal. But for others, the symptoms can persist for months . Scientists still don't know why this happens. One study found that about 6% of people with COVID-19 reported having 'phantosmia'. But experts say more research is needed to learn more about this.
Other problems that may arise due to this condition
Smells and tastes have a huge impact on our mood. A good smell can make us happy. But constantly smelling bad can reduce the quality of our life. Let's look at some of the problems that can arise from this.
| Problem | Possible impact |
|---|---|
| Depression | Constantly smelling bad can be a source of discomfort and can reduce the joy and excitement of life. |
| Loss of appetite and weight loss | Bad breath can make you feel uneasy about eating. This can lead to loss of appetite and weight loss over time. |
| Threat to security | It is impossible to detect dangerous things by smell, such as spoiled food, a gas leak, or a fire. |
| Impact on work | This is a major obstacle for jobs that rely on scent, such as chefs, perfumers, and firefighters. |
What are the treatments? Who should I see?
When treating a smell problem like `phantosmia`, especially if it was caused by a head injury, you may need to see several doctors. Your treatment team may include:
- Your family doctor (Primary care doctor)
- An ear, nose and throat specialist (Otolaryngologist or ENT specialist)
- Neurologist
- Allergy specialist
Your doctor will perform various tests and a physical examination to determine the cause of this condition. Depending on the cause , medications may be prescribed as treatment.
If medication doesn't work and the problem persists, surgery may be an option. But doctors often recommend it as a last resort. Because if the surgery isn't successful, you could lose your sense of smell completely, so take that risk only if absolutely necessary.
However, if you develop this condition after a viral infection like COVID or a head injury, there is no specific treatment. The good news is that the damaged nerves in our nose have the ability to regrow. So, even without any treatment, your sense of smell can gradually, or even completely, return.
Take-Home Message
- If you can smell a smell that only you can smell, but is not actually in the environment, it could be a condition called `Phantosmia`. Don't ignore this.
- There can be several reasons for this. Head injuries, sinus infections, and COVID-19 infection are among the main ones.
- If you have any of these symptoms, be sure to seek medical advice , as they could be a sign of another serious illness.
- There are treatments available, but they depend on the cause of your condition. Sometimes, especially after viral infections, it can go away without treatment.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න