Definition
Ageusia is the loss of taste sensitivity.
The inability to perceive taste is found in multiple pathological conditions.
Local causes include infections of the tongue and upper respiratory tract (such as rhinitis and sinusitis), glossitis, stomatitis and smoking. If it is limited to one side of the tongue (as in Bell's palsy), it will rarely be noticed.
Anxiety disorders, tumors, nutritional deficiencies (zinc and niacin), endocrine diseases (Cushing's syndrome, hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus), renal and hepatic insufficiencies can also affect the perception of taste.
Other causes of ageusia include cranial trauma and neurological damage (eg lesions of the trigeminal nerve and glossopharyngeal, facial paralysis and multiple sclerosis).
The loss of the sense of taste can also appear as a secondary effect in taking various drugs and in head and neck radiotherapy.
Possible Causes * of Ageusia
- Anxiety
- Diabetes
- Herpes zoster oticus
- Kidney failure
- Hypothyroidism
- Cushing's disease
- Acoustic neurinoma
- Ear infection
- Nasal polyposis
- Rhinitis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Sjögren syndrome
- Sinusitis
