Therapy of olfactory disorders
A therapy of an olfactory disorder always depends on the cause. If the olfactory disorder is caused by another disease, it must be treated adequately. If it occurs as a side effect of a certain medication, it should be discontinued if possible or the dose should be adjusted.
The treatment of a congenital olfactory disorder or an age-related deterioration in olfactory perception is not yet possible at present. However, olfactory disorders caused by a sinunasal cause can be well controlled therapeutically. Surgical therapy: If a nasal septum curvature, polyps in the nose or benign or malignant tumors of the nose cause the olfactory disorders, these causes can be treated surgically.
A reduction in the size of the nasal concha is also an option, as it improves nasal breathing and allows more air and thus more fragrances to reach the olfactory mucosa. Drug therapy: In addition to surgery, drug therapy can also be considered in the case of a sinunasal olfactory disorder. Corticosteroids, which are effective against existing inflammation and also ensure the regression of polyps in the nose, are used in particular.
In addition, they can also bring about improvements in patients who have neither inflammation nor polyps. Corticosteroids can be administered either in the form of a nasal spray, i.e. locally, or they can be taken in the form of tablets. They then have a systemic effect – i.e. on the entire organism, which is rather unfavorable with regard to the wide spectrum of side effects, although this form of administration is naturally more effective. Accordingly, local application is recommended.
Prognosis and duration of an olfactory disorder
It is hardly possible to make a concrete statement about the duration and prognosis of the olfactory disorder. These depend on the underlying disease and many other influences: Age-related or inherited olfactory disorders can hardly be influenced. On the other hand, in the case of injury-related olfactory disorders, partial recovery can occur over the years in 10 to 30 percent of patients.
If the cause is an infection, 60 percent of patients can expect at least partial recovery of the olfactory function within weeks. Generally favorable factors for the disappearance of the olfactory disorder are a residual olfactory capacity as high as possible, a young age to be a non-smoker, a distorted olfactory impression at the beginning of the disorder and no lateral differences in olfactory function.Furthermore, some tests can be used to test the volume of the so-called olfactory bulb (Bulbus olfactorius) and its response to stimuli. The olfactory bulb is a part of the brain where the olfactory nerves of the nose end. A large volume and a strong response are therefore among the favorable factors. Since the olfactory disorder can also appear as a harbinger of a serious neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, its prognosis is extremely uncertain.