title: Hyperosmia in Lyme disease.
abstract: Neurological involvement in Lyme disease has been reported to include meningitis, cranial neuropathy and radiculoneuritis. While it is known that in some cases of asceptic meningitis patients may develop hyperosmia, the association between hyperosmia and Lyme disease has not previously been studied. Objective To carry out the first systematic study to ascertain whether hyperosmia is also a feature of Lyme disease. Method A questionnaire regarding abnormal sensory sensitivity in respect of the sense of smell was administered to 16 serologically positive Lyme disease patients and to 18 control subjects. Results The two groups were matched in respect of age, sex and body mass. None of the 34 subjects was suffering from migraine. Eight (50%) of the Lyme patients and none (0%) of the controls suffered from hyperosmia (p=0.0007). Conclusion This first systematic controlled study showed that Lyme disease is associated with hyperosmia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Basant K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Puri
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Breakspear Medical Group, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: Jean A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Monro
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Peter O O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Julu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Breakspear Medical Group, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: Michele C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kingston
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Breakspear Medical Group, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK.
authors.forename: Mussadiq
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*