- Although loss of smell is associated with Covid-19, it can actually be caused by other diseases as well.
- Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis is one of the main causes affecting the sense of smell.
- Precision medicine has helped well-controlled patients to recover their olfactory ability in a short time.
The start of the Covid-19 pandemic transformed the lives of the world population. At the same time, it caused greater importance to be attached to the loss of smell Since the beginning of the health emergency, it has positioned itself as one of the main symptoms in patients. Although the truth is that this discomfort can have many causes and is also related to other diseases.
Causes for which the sense of smell can be lost
To begin with, it should be mentioned that its correct name is anosmia and should never be underestimated. In fact, one of its most dangerous variants is the chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis because it can last for long periods of time and significantly affect the smell of patients.
Similarly, the Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis has an estimated incidence of 2 to 5% of the adult population in Mexico. This disease causes inflammation of the nasal mucosa and paranasal sinuses as an excessive response of the immune system.
Among the most characteristic symptoms of this condition are nasal congestion and/or obstruction, postnasal discharge, facial oppression, headache and loss of smell.
In this sense, the nose fulfills multiple functions that are often not valued. It should only be noted that it has the capacity to register approximately 10 thousand odors. Likewise, the taste of food flavors is directly influenced by olfactory perception.
A fundamental meaning for people’s lives
And not only that, smell also allows us to be alert to certain dangers, such as detecting a gas leak, a burnt cable, a fire or if food that smells bad may be spoiled. These are just a few examples that show the repercussions that the anosmia has in different spheres of life.
”The sense of smell is a capacity of which we have become more aware as a result of the pandemic. Currently, many people associate the loss of smell with suspicion of COVID-19; however, conditions such as chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis also affect this faculty”, highlights Dr. Andrés Sadek, otolaryngologist at Hospital Ángeles Pedregal.
For his part, he Dr Said Arablin, Immunology medical manager at Sanofi, emphasized that not only timely attention to loss of smell is vital, but also confirmation of comorbidities that are common in this type of illness caused by type 2 inflammation, such as asthma or allergic rhinitis. In fact, they usually occur in half of the cases.
Dr. Arablin added that, given this scenario, it is essential that people consult with a specialist. The objective is to receive an adequate diagnosis and care, he also highlighted that, although chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis is a chronic diseaseadvances in science have developed therapeutic options that allow optimal control of the disease.
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