| Congenital Anosmia | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Isolated Congenital Anosmia |
 | |
| Olfactory bulbs and olfactory tracts outlined in red. These structures, which are critical for the sense of smell, are missing or underdeveloped in individuals with congenital anosmia. | |
| Specialty | Otorhinolaryngology |
| Symptoms | Complete inability to perceive smell from birth[1] |
| Complications | Safety risks (e.g., inability to detect smoke or gas leaks), potential nutritional issues[2] |
| Usual onset | Birth[1] |
| Duration | Lifelong[1] |
| Types | Isolated, Syndromic (e.g., Kallmann syndrome)[3] |
| Causes | Genetic mutations, developmental defects of the olfactory bulbs and tracts[3] |
| Risk factors | Genetic predisposition[3] |
| Diagnostic method | Medical history, physical examination, smell tests, brain imaging (MRI/CT), nasal endoscopy, olfactory nerve testing[1][4] |
| Differential diagnosis | Acquired anosmia, other olfactory disorders[5] |
| Prevention | None[1] |
| Treatment | No cure; management includes safety precautions and coping strategies[2][6] |
| Medication | None[1] |
| Prognosis | Lifelong condition with management of associated risks[1] |
| Frequency | Approximately 1 in 10,000 individuals[4] |
Congenital anosmia is a rare condition characterized by the complete inability to perceive smell from birth. It affects approximately 1 in 10,000 individuals and is often diagnosed later in life due to its subtle presentation and lack of associated symptoms.[7][8]
- ^ a b c d e f g "Congenital Anosmia". Fifth Sense. Archived from the original on 2024-05-12. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ a b "Anosmia (Loss of Sense of Smell)". Cleveland Clinic. Archived from the original on 2024-07-05. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ a b c "Isolated congenital anosmia". Orphanet. Archived from the original on 2024-07-06. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ a b Saw, Chia; Friesen, Noel David; Bartley, Anthony (2022-07-07). "An Extremely Rare Cause of Isolated Congenital Anosmia". Case Reports in Pediatrics. 2022 (4): 5253121. doi:10.7171/3fc1f5fe.87a00931. PMC 9283015. PMID 35837270.
- ^ "Loss of Smell (Anosmia)". Yale Medicine. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ "Can't smell anything? Discovery may give you hope". ScienceDaily. 2012-09-02. Archived from the original on 2024-07-06. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ Alotaibi, Naif H.; Alrashed, May; Drad, Mohammed K.; Abu-Safieh, Leen; Almobarak, Abdulaziz A.; Baz, Batoul; Farzan, Raed A.; Alsuhaibani, Mohanned S.; Al-Alsheikh, Yazeed (2022-08-05). "Isolated Congenital Anosmia: Case Report and Literature Review". Ear, Nose & Throat Journal. doi:10.1177/01455613221111496. ISSN 0145-5613. PMID 35931064.
- ^ Saw, Chia; Friesen, Noel David; Bartley, Anthony (2022-07-07). "An Extremely Rare Cause of Isolated Congenital Anosmia". Case Reports in Pediatrics. 2022 (4): 1–4. doi:10.7171/3fc1f5fe.87a00931. PMC 9283015. PMID 35837270.