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What Causes Loss In Sense Of Taste And Smell?

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Posted on Mon, 7 Jul 2014
Question: I AM A 62 YEAR OLD FEMALE WHO AFTER A COLD LOST MY SMELL AND TASTE THEN IT CAME BACK FOR ONE WEEK THEN LOST IT AGAIN NOW IT'S BEEN GONE FOR ONE YEAR. MY DOCTOR TOOK ME OFF METFORMIN FOR 3 MONTHS TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM .MY BLOOD SUGAR IS IN CONTROL.I CAN SMELL BUT I CANNOT TASTE I CAN ONLY TASTE TWO THINGS NOTHING ELSE .WHY CAN I SMELL FOOD BUT NOT TASTE ?
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Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Suggestive of nerve damage.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for posting your query.

The taste is controlled by seventh, ninth and tenth cranial nerves, which send impulses to tongue nerves, responsible for our taste sensations. These nerves can get damaged by the viruses causing common cold and also due to diabetes. Partial recovery may occur in some cases, however, it may be delayed upto 2-3 years.

The nerve involved in smell sense (first cranial nerve) is different from taste nerve, and the smell nerve has recovered in your case.

I hope my reply has helped you.

I would be pleased to answer, if you have any follow up queries or if you require any further information.
     
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX
For DIRECT QUERY to me: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My blog: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.com/
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Sudhir Kumar

Neurologist

Practicing since :1994

Answered : 6231 Questions

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What Causes Loss In Sense Of Taste And Smell?

Brief Answer: Suggestive of nerve damage. Detailed Answer: Hi, Thank you for posting your query. The taste is controlled by seventh, ninth and tenth cranial nerves, which send impulses to tongue nerves, responsible for our taste sensations. These nerves can get damaged by the viruses causing common cold and also due to diabetes. Partial recovery may occur in some cases, however, it may be delayed upto 2-3 years. The nerve involved in smell sense (first cranial nerve) is different from taste nerve, and the smell nerve has recovered in your case. I hope my reply has helped you. I would be pleased to answer, if you have any follow up queries or if you require any further information. Best wishes, Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX For DIRECT QUERY to me: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar My blog: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.com/