title: Might Helicobacter pylori infection be associated with distortion on taste perception?
abstract: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been found in dental plaque, saliva and lingual sites. To date, taste or olfaction disorders related to H. pylori infections have never been reported. In a review of the literature we found two papers just referring to a sour taste sensation during H. pylori infection. Studies in animal models suggest that changes in taste perception may relate to infections which damage taste buds. We observed an interesting clinical case of a 24-year-old Ghanaian woman with documented H. pylori gastric infection, complaining of cacosmia and cacogeusia. Taste evaluation indicated hypogeusia and highlighted a specific difficulty in discriminating between bitter and acid tastes. Saliva fluid was found positive for the ureA gene (H. pylori ureasi A). On the basis of this report, we hypothesize that taste perception might be correlated with a documented H. pylori infection. So, in a dyspeptic clinical picture in both pre and post diagnostic phase when H. pylori infection is suspected, taste evaluation might be important. Further studies are certainly needed in a large patient population to clarify the possible connection between H. pylori infection and smell-taste distortion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Motor Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, Medical University of Verona, Italy. mariapaola.cecchini@univr.it
authors.forename: Maria Paola
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cecchini
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bassetto
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Osculati
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sbarbati
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marcolini
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pegoraro
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Franceschi
mesh_terms: D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin; D004408:Dysgeusia / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005773:Gastroscopy; D005869:Ghana / Q000208:ethnology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008795:Metronidazole; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D000077402:Pantoprazole; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology; D055697:Taste Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014510:Urease / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D000077402:Pantoprazole; D014510:Urease; D017291:Clarithromycin