Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
124 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

What Causes Loss In The Sense Of Taste?

I had the flu about three months ago and lost ability to taste. Since then, I taste intermittently, maybe 50% of the time. I cannot consistently taste as of yet. About five or six weeks ago I have started to get a sensation of smelling smoke. There is no smoke, I have never smoked and now often feel like I am smelling smoke. I have normal sense of smell in general, but continue to have a smell sensation of smoke. Is this normal?
posted on Tue, 6 Jun 2017
Twitter Thu, 29 Jun 2017 Answered on
Twitter Fri, 30 Jun 2017 Last reviewed on
Report Abuse
General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for the query. I understand your concern.
* Loss of sense of taste. after viral fever can be due to damage to normal bacterial flora of mouth cavity ( lactobacilli ), leading to pathological organisms to supervene & taste buds get involved in the infection to cause loss of taste/ many a times sense of taste is really depends on sense of smell,, so involvement of nasal mucus membrane in viral infection can give block of smell & there fore taste also.
Whatever way it is lack of taste is a temporary symptom & goes after recovery from viral infection. Supplements of vitamin B complex or Lactobacilli/ saline nasal drops do help in recovery.
* viral fevers with viral of common cold many a times causes inflammation of nasal mucosa & there is impaired smell as well as allergy or inflammation of ear .. leading to phantom smell -which is described as an olfactory hallucination( smell being the function of nose.. swelling of ear gives a phantom feeling of smell which is not there ( with you it is a smell of smoke ) With viral fever it is a short term symptoms & returns back to normal as viral infection resolves. saline nasal drops help.
If it persists beyond few weeks consultation of an ENT surgeon to exclude / confirm nasal polyps is advised.
Thanks
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Loading Online Doctors....
What Causes Loss In The Sense Of Taste?

Hi, Thanks for the query. I understand your concern. * Loss of sense of taste. after viral fever can be due to damage to normal bacterial flora of mouth cavity ( lactobacilli ), leading to pathological organisms to supervene & taste buds get involved in the infection to cause loss of taste/ many a times sense of taste is really depends on sense of smell,, so involvement of nasal mucus membrane in viral infection can give block of smell & there fore taste also. Whatever way it is lack of taste is a temporary symptom & goes after recovery from viral infection. Supplements of vitamin B complex or Lactobacilli/ saline nasal drops do help in recovery. * viral fevers with viral of common cold many a times causes inflammation of nasal mucosa & there is impaired smell as well as allergy or inflammation of ear .. leading to phantom smell -which is described as an olfactory hallucination( smell being the function of nose.. swelling of ear gives a phantom feeling of smell which is not there ( with you it is a smell of smoke ) With viral fever it is a short term symptoms & returns back to normal as viral infection resolves. saline nasal drops help. If it persists beyond few weeks consultation of an ENT surgeon to exclude / confirm nasal polyps is advised. Thanks