Long term serious olfactory loss in colds and/or flu.
BACKGROUND
In the general population, we can find 2-3% of lifelong olfactory disorders (from hyposmia to anosmia). Two of the most frequent aetiologies are the common cold and flu. The aim of this study was to show the degree of long-term olfactory dysfunction caused by a cold or flu.


METHODS
This study was based on 240 patients, with olfactory loss caused only by flu or a cold. We excluded all patients with concomitant illness (66 patients), the rest of patients (n=174) consisted of 51 men (29.3%) and 123 women (70.7%). They all underwent olfactometry study (i and v cranial nerve) and a nasal sinus computed tomography scan, as well as magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Results were compared with a control group (n=120).


RESULTS
Very significant differences in levels of olfactory impairment for the olfactory nerve (P<.00001) and trigeminal nerve (P<.0001) were confirmed.


CONCLUSIONS
People that suffer olfactory dysfunction for more than 6 months, from flu or a cold, present serious impairment of olfactory abilities.
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Municipal de Badalona-BSA (Badalona Servicios Asistenciales), Badalona (Barcelona), España. Electronic address: 15583jhl@comb.es.
Josep
J
de Haro-Licer
Jordi
J
Roura-Moreno
Anabella
A
Vizitiu
Adela
A
González-Fernández
Josep Antón
JA
González-Ares
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003139:Common Cold / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
Alteraciones del olfato; Barcelona Smell Test; Cold; Flu; Gripe; Olfactometry; Olfactory disorders; Olfato; Olfatometría; Resfriado; Smell