[Olfactory dysfunction encountered in the practical work of the otorhinolaryngologist: the analysis of symptoms of different pathological conditions and in the pregnant women]

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to analyse the frequency and specific features of olfactory dysfunction associated with various diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses in pregnant women and patients with psychic disorders. Among the patients presenting with various forms of exterior nasal deformities, the olfactory thresholds were especially elevated in those suffering from rhinoscoliosis due to deflection of the nasal septum and disturbances of nasal breathing. Moreover, the elevation of olfactory thresholds was documented practically in all the patients with acute sinusitis and in 76.6% of those with chronic sinusitis. The majority of the examined pregnant women suffered mixed-type olfactory dysfunction, with 66.6% of them having compromised olfactory function in the second trimester and 95.8% in the first and third trimesters. The structure of olfactory dysfunction in the schizophrenics was dominated by partial agnosmia (81% of the patients). Moreover, 5% of the patients in this condition either exhibited illusory perception of smell (parosmia) or sensed a smell in the absence of olfactory stimulation (phantosmia).