Olfactory function after mild head injury in children

Abstract

Olfactory impairment has been shown to be linked to head injury. In addition, it is believed that measurement of olfactory function after head trauma represents a sensitive tool for measuring frontal brain damage. Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of mild head trauma in children on olfactory function over a time period of up to 1 year after head trauma. The olfactory function of 114 children who suffered mild head trauma according to the Glasgow Coma Scale was assessed 3 times with an interval of 4 months. In addition, healthy, age-matched controls were tested for comparison of olfactory function. Patients scored significantly lower on the odor threshold test compared to the control group-but still within normal range. Between the 2 groups, no difference was found for suprathreshold testing. Neither olfactory threshold scores nor olfactory discrimination scores changed significantly over the study period of 1 year. This data prove an impact of mild head trauma on olfactory function of children. It seems unlikely that children who suffered mild head trauma will become hyposmic or anosmic.

Keywords: children; head injury; olfaction.