Smell disorders

Olfactory disorders are disorders of the n. olfactorius and olfactory pathways function.

Quantitative olfactory disorders

 * In case of reduced sense of smell (hyposmia) or loss of sense of smell (anosmia), exclude diseases of the nasal cavity (chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane);
 * olfactory disorder after trauma - contusion bulbus olfactorius, cranial base fracture at the level of the lamina cribriformis - weeks to months after the injury, most likely caused by cicatricial changes mening;
 * unilateral smell disorder - in affections of the base of the frontal lobes - e.g. meningioma sulci olfactorii, aneurysm and. cerebri anterior ;
 * hyperosmia - increased perception.

Qualitative olfactory disturbances

 * Qualitative olfactory disorders (parosmia, dysosmia) - in inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, in diabetes and Paget's disease;
 * the nasal mucosa richly innervated from the n. V (irritating sensations), as free nerve endings (mediating paini) – hyposmia is usually caused by an affection of the nasal mucosa innervated by the n. V, aromatic sensations (soap, coffee) from irritants (vinegar, ammonia) will be distinguished by the olfactory test - if both are affected, this indicates an impairment of the nasal mucosa innervated by n. V;
 * olfactory hallucinations - psychoses;
 * unciform crisis - one form of epileptic aura, a seizure with hallucinations, induced from the area of ​​the uncus gyri hippocampi by irritation.

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