LIFE-LONG ANOSMIA Smell and Taste Disorders http://pakmed.net

Smell and Taste Disorders

LIFE-LONG ANOSMIA

Some people are born without an ability to smell. This is called congenital anosmia. There are many possible reasons for a life-long inability to smell. The most commonly described, although it occurs in only 1 in 50,000 females and 1 in 10,000 males, congenital anosmia is Kallman's syndrome. This syndrome can run in families and is manifested chiefly by smell loss and hormonal problems that prevent the development of normal sexual characteristics. In women, this might be evidenced by lack of onset of normal menstruation, poor breast development, sparse or absent axillary and pubic hair. Men might exhibit small testicles and penis, sparse or absent facial, axillary or pubic hair. Sterility might be present. If you can never remember being able to smell, and have noted abnormal sexual development in yourself or in close family members, you might want to consult an endocrinologist (hormone specialist) in your area for evaluation.

Some individuals who can not remember ever being able to smell were born with a normal smell system, but lost this ability during childhood. The two most likely causes for this are head trauma and viral infection. Data obtained from adults show that even insignificant head trauma can lead to permanent and total smell loss. Minor blows to the head are common in childhood. It is likely that some children labeled as "congenital anosmics" were born with an intact smell system, but damaged this system during childhood. Viral respiratory infections (the common cold) have also been known to damage the smell system (see below). It is possible that some children sustained permanent injury to the smell system through a viral infection when very young.

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