Question

A 52-year-old man is on a trip in Italy where he rides a motorcycle. He has an accident that causes head trauma and leaves him unconscious. He is taken to a hospital, where he is diagnosed with a severe concussion but not skull or other bone fractures. He recovers fully. His physician assures him that there is no permanent injury. Three weeks later, the patient starts noticing that he does not enjoy food as before, as he cannot perceive most flavors. In addition, he notices a putrid smell during most of the day. A few weeks later, he realizes that he is not able to smell the putrid odor anymore, but neither can he smell anything else.

What is a possible diagnosis for this patient?

Answer 1

The possible diagnosis for this patient suffering from the loss of taste and smell after severe head concussion recovery is anosmia after head concussion caused due to probable olfactory nerve damage. The hypogeusia or loss of taste could be due to olfactory acuity loss. Abnormalities of taste and smell after head trauma is a known fact. The intermediate putrid odor was from dysosmia resulting from head trauma. Hypogeusia, dysgeusia, hyposmia, and dysosmia are all conditions resulting from head concussion.