Dr. Rami Hamed Medical Blog

Are taste disorders common ?

Written by Dr. Hatem Eliwi | 04-Jan-2020 08:37:33

 

Are taste disorders common?

Taste disorders are:

Defined as Reduced or disability to taste sweet, sour, bitter, or salty things.

Type of Taste disorders 

  • Hypogeusia, a reduced ability to taste sweet, sour, bitter, salty,
  • Dysgeusia is a condition in which a foul, salty, or metallic taste sensation
  • Ageusia is the complete loss to detect any tastes,
  • Some people who complain of a loss of taste are experiencing a loss of smell instead of a loss of taste.
  • Using hot, spicy, or a variety of food mixtures may reduce the experience of the taste disorders

 Are taste disorders common?

15 % of the people are suffering from taste reduction, but most of them seek doctors help, as well as so many are confused between taste and smell disorder

Cause of Taste problems

  • Congenital: it is rare to be born with taste disability
  • Upper respiratory tract infection can affect the smelling sense
  • Middle ear infection; because the small nerve which transfers the taste sense (corda tympani) passes into the tympanic cavity
  • Head and neck radiotherapy affects the taste buds on the tongue
  • Certain chemicals exposure, antibiotics, and other medication can reduce the taste ability of head trauma
  • Some types of surgery to the ear, nose, and throat, may affect the taste
  • Poor oral hygiene, and dental problems.
  • Most cases of taste disorders are curable when the underlying cause is diagnosed and treated.