title: Clinical features of olfactory disorders in patients seeking medical consultation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Olfactory disorders are common complaints in ENT clinics. We investigated causes and relevant features of olfactory disorders and the need for gustatory testing in patients with olfactory dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 140 patients seeking medical consultations were enrolled. All patients were asked about their olfactory disorders in a structured interview of medical history and underwent thorough otolaryngologic examinations and imaging of the head.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Causes of olfactory disorders were classified as: upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), sinonasal diseases (NSD), head trauma, idiopathic, endoscopic sinus surgery, congenital anosmia, and other causes. Each of the various causes of olfactory dysfunction had its own distinct clinical features. Nineteen of 54 patients whose gustation was assessed had gustatory disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The leading causes of olfactory dysfunction were URTI, NSD, head trauma, and idiopathic causes. Gustatory disorders were fairly common in patients with olfactory dysfunction. High priority should be given to complaints of olfactory disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Guowei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yongxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Xutao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Kunyan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult