Long-term Follow-up of Olfactory Loss Secondary to Head Trauma and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which olfactory function can improve after loss induced by head trauma or a previous upper respiratory tract infection (URI) and the time for this improvement for more effective patient counseling. DESIGN: Patients initially evaluated at the University of Cincinnati (Ohio) Taste and Smell Center were reevaluated for olfactory loss with the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) Smell Identification Test 1 to 5 years after initial testing. Changes in score on this test were used to indicate improvement in sensory function. Subjective information on olfactory ability and olfactory symptoms was also collected. SETTING: University-based tertiary care center. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Forty-one patients with olfactory loss induced by head trauma (20) or previous URI (21). RESULTS: Seven (35%) of 20 patients with head trauma improved on the smell test by 4 points or more. Fourteen of 21 (67%) patients with a previous URI had improved scores of this magnitude or more. A statistically significant correlation was noted between the amounts of improvement and length of follow-up for URI patients. Thirteen of these patients also reported improved olfactory function. CONCLUSION: These findings for patients with head trauma are consistent with other reports of recovery of (or improvement in) olfactory function after trauma-induced loss. For patients with previous URI, these data indicate that improvement in olfactory function occurs, but the improvement may take several years.
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- Authors
- Duncan, H. J., & Seiden, A. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Cincinnati Medical Center (US)
- Venue
- Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
- Publisher
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Published
- 1995-10-01
- Volume
- 121
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1183-1187
- ISSN
- 0886-4470 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2027744934
- Cited by
- 161
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Head and Neck Surgical Oncology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Otorhinolaryngology › Sinusitis and nasal conditions
- Keywords
- olfactory loss, anosmia, head trauma, upper respiratory tract infection, olfactory function recovery, smell identification test, long-term follow-up, patient counseling
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Olfaction Disorders, Counseling, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Craniocerebral Trauma, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Odorants, Remission, Spontaneous, Respiratory Tract Infections, Smell, Reproducibility of Results
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