Explore Taste & Smell ClinicViral Damage Nasal Sinus Disease
Understanding Loss of Smell
Losing your sense of smell can have many causes, such as microorganisms, nasal polyps, allergies, trauma, and medications. At our Taste and Smell Clinic, our specialists can distinguish the cause of smell loss and create the right treatment plan.
Nasal Sinus Disease
If you have inflammation or polyps in your nose or sinuses, you may gradually lose your sense of smell. Sometimes, your sense of smell may improve after exercise or showering or with certain drugs like antibiotics or corticosteroids. But these effects are usually temporary and not enough to restore your normal smell. You may also experience bad or strange tastes and smells.
Viral Damage
Loss of smell can be caused by a previous upper respiratory viral infection leading to injury of the specialized nerve tissue at the top of the nose or smell pathways in the brain. The partial loss of smell usually appears after a cold or flu and may be accompanied by a loss of taste. Some patients gradually recover their smell function with time. There are some effective therapies for taste and smell problems due to viral damage, which can help some patients. Our specialists may suggest innovative solutions to help with loss of smell.
Trauma-Induced Damage
Trauma may cause smell loss as a result of damage to the sensory nerve lining of the nose or nasal passages. The smell loss is not gradual in this case. It may be both partial or total loss, depending on the extent of trauma to the nose.
Medication-Induced Damage
Several medications may have side effects that affect both your sense of taste and smell, including:
- Antibiotics such as amoxicillin, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin
- Steroid nasal sprays such as fluticasone
- Blood pressure and heart medications, such as amlodipine and enalapril
- Cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins), such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, and pravastatin
Testing & Diagnosis
When you visit us at UConn Health, an experienced otorhinolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) will perform an evaluation. They will check your nose and throat with a small camera called a nasopharyngoscope to distinguish the underlying cause of your smell loss and establish the proper diagnosis. You might also receive a computed tomography (CT) scan of your sinuses.
Treatment & Recovery of Viral Damage & Nasal Sinus Disease
Once diagnosed, we will discuss your treatment options and offer a personalized treatment plan.
Smell Retraining Therapy (SRT) treatment, also known as olfactory training, involves the repeated presentation of different smells through the nose to stimulate the olfactory system and establish a memory of that smell. This research-based treatment targets the unique ability of smell nerves to regrow after being damaged.
The therapy may start with a few different scents you remember. We will ask you to sniff each scent for 10 to 20 seconds at least once or twice a day and focus on your memory of that smell. After each scent, you should take a few breaths before moving on to the next one. This treatment may take some time, so be sure to do it for at least 12 weeks.
Related Topics
Why UConn Health for Viral Damage & Nasal Sinus Disease?
We Were the First To Implement Olfactory Training
UConn Health is proud to be the first academic medical center in the region to use Smell Retraining Therapy (SRT), also known as olfactory training, to treat nasal sinus damage. We are the pioneers of this innovative medical treatment.
We Provide Specialized Diagnostic Services
Our viral damage and nasal sinus disease health care team are experts in diagnosing taste and smell disorders. We will perform all the necessary tests to identify the root cause of your loss of smell.