Anosmia: Classification of Types and Effect on Quality of Life
Anosmia is characterised as the loss of the ability to perceive smell, also known as a lack of olfactory function (Parker &Parker, 2004). Anosmia is said to be caused by an underdevelopment or absence of the olfactory bulbs and tracts (Dallago, Abech, Pereira-Lima, Leaes, Batista, Trarbach & Oliveira, 2008). It has been shown that approximately 1 in 10 000 males and 1 in 15 000 females are affected by this condition (Vowles, Bleach & Rowe-Jones, 1997). There are various disturbances that can cause an individual to suffer from anosmia, including exposure to dangerous chemicals, nasal obstruction/ inflammation, head trauma, neurological diseases and surgical intervention (Mackay-Sim, Grant, Owen, Chant & Silburn, 2004). No matter which type of anosmia an individual suffers from it always has an effect on the quality of life experienced by the individual.
One way of contracting anosmia is that of congenital anosmia where the individual has inherited a reduction or total lack of the sense of smell. A study by Assouline et al (1998) regarding two patients suffering from congenital anosmia found that growth regarding the olfactory fila seems to have been arrested prematurely between 7 to 16.5 weeks of gestation. It is considered to be extremely rare with only a small minority of approximately 0.01% suffering from congenital anosmia (Feldmesser, Bercovich, Avidan, Halbertal, Haim et al, 2007). To have congenital anosmia occur in a single member of a family is considered extremely rare and usually presents late (Vowles, et al, 1997). A case study done on a 5 year old girl by Vowles et al. (1997) demonstrated a case of congenital anosmia. While she showed an inability to differentiate between various concentrations of PEMEC sniff bottles, she showed no physical indication to explain her defective ability to smell. It is also shown in congenital anosmia that there is a absence or severe decrease in the individuals olfactory receptors, those that remained present however
One way of contracting anosmia is that of congenital anosmia where the individual has inherited a reduction or total lack of the sense of smell. A study by Assouline et al (1998) regarding two patients suffering from congenital anosmia found that growth regarding the olfactory fila seems to have been arrested prematurely between 7 to 16.5 weeks of gestation. It is considered to be extremely rare with only a small minority of approximately 0.01% suffering from congenital anosmia (Feldmesser, Bercovich, Avidan, Halbertal, Haim et al, 2007). To have congenital anosmia occur in a single member of a family is considered extremely rare and usually presents late (Vowles, et al, 1997). A case study done on a 5 year old girl by Vowles et al. (1997) demonstrated a case of congenital anosmia. While she showed an inability to differentiate between various concentrations of PEMEC sniff bottles, she showed no physical indication to explain her defective ability to smell. It is also shown in congenital anosmia that there is a absence or severe decrease in the individuals olfactory receptors, those that remained present however
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