Anti-inflammatory and surgical therapy of olfactory disorders related to sino-nasal disease.
Olfactory loss may be caused by mechanical obstruction or inflammation of the olfactory epithelium due to allergic/non-allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis with or without polyps. Treatment of olfactory loss related to sino-nasal disease is possible. Apart from surgical approaches and/or treatment with antibiotics, both systemic and topical steroids are effectively used in the therapy of olfactory loss related to sino-nasal disease. In most cases improvement of olfactory function appears to relate to the anti-inflammatory actions of the steroids used. While some details of therapeutic effect and dose regimen are not clear, systemic steroids are often helpful even in patients without nasal obstruction due to polyps or obvious inflammatory changes.
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital, University of Basel, CH-4126 Basel, Switzerland. mwolfensberger@uhbs.ch
Markus
M
Wolfensberger
Thomas
T
Hummel
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013256:Steroids