The anamnesis (medical history) represents an important component in the diagnosis of dysosmia (olfactory disorders).
Medical history represents an important component in the diagnosis of dysosmia.
Family history
- What is the general health of your family members?
- Are there any diseases in your family (e.g., Parkinson’s disease; Alzheimer’s disease) that are common?
- Are there any hereditary diseases in your family?
Social history
- What is your profession?
- Are you exposed to harmful working substances in your profession?
Current medical history/systemic medical history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- How long has your olfactory disorder been present? Please describe your olfactory disorder.
- Did it develop slowly or did it occur acutely?
- Is sensory perception totally or only partially impaired?
- Do you have any discomfort such as runny nose or nasal obstruction?
- Have you experienced any other symptoms such as headaches, sensory disturbances, motor disturbances?
- Do you remember a triggering event (accident, fall, etc.)?
Vegetative anamnesis incl. nutritional anamnesis.
- Do you smoke? If yes, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
- Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
- Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs (amphetamines; cocaine) and how often per day or per week?
Self history incl. drug history.
- Pre-existing conditions (infectious disease; internal diseases (hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), liver cirrhosis, renal insufficiency (kidney weakness), pernicious anemia); depression; schizophrenia; neurological diseases (alcoholic encephalopathy/alcohol-related central nervous system disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis)).
- Operations
- Radiotherapy
- Allergies
Medication history
- Medication side effects such as:
- ACE inhibitors
- Amphetamines
- Antidepressants such as amytriptyline
- Antihypertensives such as diltiazem (calcium antagonist), nifedipine (calcium antagonist).
- Anticoagulants (phenprocoumon).
- Aminoglycosides
- Persistent use of nasal spray
- Interferon
- L-Dopa
- Penicillamine
- Thiamazole
- Cytostatic drugs such as cisplatin, methotrexate
Environmental history
- Chemical/toxic effects, unspecified.
- Formaldehyde poisoning
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
A number of tests have been established that can quantitatively measure olfaction by suprathreshold taste testing. These tests include:
- Sniffin Sticks (smelling sticks) test; orthonasal test for identification, olfactory threshold, and discrimination; can be used from 4-5 years of age.
- UPSIT – University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test; orthonasal test; testing identification; usable from 5 years of age.
- CCCRC – Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center test; orthonasal test; threshold testing with butanol and identification testing for 10 odors; not sufficiently validated for infancy.
