A smell that others cannot smell. Causal factors of olfactory hallucinations. Hyperosmia: heightened sense of smell. Causes and treatment

If a person says “I smell a smell that is not there,” we are talking about the appearance of olfactory hallucinations. This term is understood as a condition when a person experiences an odor that does not correspond to any stimulus. In fact, this aroma is objectively absent in reality, and therefore people around do not feel it. What does this mean?

Causes of unpleasant odor

The perception of smell depends on special olfactory receptors, which are localized in the structure of the nasal mucosa.

They are the ones who respond to specific aromatic stimuli. However, this is only the first section of the analyzer.

The impulse then travels to the part of the brain that is responsible for evaluating sensations, namely the temporal lobes.

If a person has a feeling of smell in the absence of it, this indicates a certain pathology.

All reasons are divided into two categories. The smell can be real, but people around do not feel it until the patient gets quite close.

In this case, otolaryngological and dental problems can be suspected. These include the following:

The listed pathologies are characterized by the appearance of purulent masses that cause an unpleasant odor.

A similar situation when a person says “I smell a bad smell” can occur with lesions of the digestive system. In this case, the cause may be gastritis, ulcer, pancreatitis or cholecystitis.

When food gets into the digestive organs, there are problems with its digestion.

During reflux or belching, unpleasant odor molecules are released.

Others may not even notice that a person has such problems.

Some people have a low olfactory threshold. They sense smells much better, so in some cases they may encounter misunderstandings from others. If the aroma is too weak, other people will not notice it.

The second group of factors is associated with disruption of the olfactory analyzer. People around them do not smell, since problems with their perception are observed only in a specific person.

The cause of such problems may be a respiratory infection, which is accompanied by inflammatory damage to the nasal mucosa, or other disorders in the body. These include the following:

It is important to consider that there is such a thing as phantom odors.

They were associated with serious stressful situations in the past and left a significant mark. In similar situations, such aromas may appear.

Symptoms by which pathology is determined

Each pathology, during the development of which a person is haunted by a smell, may have certain symptoms.

To determine the causes of the disorder, a specialist must evaluate the person's complaints, analyze the factors that preceded the appearance of an unpleasant odor, and conduct a physical examination.

It is important to determine when a foreign odor is felt, whether it is present all the time or occurs periodically, which helps to eliminate it.

The intensity of the aroma is important. In addition to the distortion of smell, a person’s taste may also change. However, in any case, the symptoms depend on the cause of the pathology.

Diseases of the ENT organs

The most common cause of symptoms of the problem is considered to be pathologies of the ENT organs.

When the mucous membranes of the nose are affected, a disturbance in the sense of smell is observed.

However, the appearance of a putrid odor does not always occur. Usually this symptom accompanies sinusitis, ozena and chronic tonsillitis.

In addition, many additional symptoms occur:

• problems with nasal breathing;
• the appearance of plugs on the tonsils;
• feeling of heaviness in the sinuses;
• the appearance of purulent secretion from the nose;
• pain when swallowing;
• a feeling of dryness of the mucous membranes and the appearance of crusts.

When acute sinusitis appears, the purulent process necessarily provokes an increase in temperature, the appearance of symptoms of poisoning and headaches.

The chronic process is accompanied by less noticeable manifestations.

With angina, damage to the kidneys, joints, and heart often occurs. These manifestations are a consequence of sensitization to streptococcal antigens.

If the problem arises as a result of viral infections, in addition to rhinitis, catarrhal manifestations are sure to occur - in particular, lacrimation and sore throat.

Digestive system diseases

An unpleasant aroma often appears due to pathologies of the digestive system.

The occurrence of this symptom is based on a violation of the digestion process of food.

With the development of ulcerative lesions of the digestive organs or hypoacid gastritis, a person experiences the smell of rotten eggs. It is not present all the time, but occurs after eating.

In addition, the following manifestations occur:

• belching;
• stool disorders;
• nausea;
• flatulence.

Many people experience discomfort in the stomach area.

Pain in the epigastric region may also be present.

If the pathology is accompanied by gastroesophageal reflux, there is a risk of heartburn.

Subsequently, a disorder such as esophagitis develops. When the gallbladder is damaged, bitterness occurs in the mouth.

Psychoneurological disorders

Many people with such pathologies perceive odors that are not really there. They may have a real prototype.

In this case we are talking about an illusion. Also, the emergence of a problem may be based on non-existent connections.

In this situation, hallucinations are diagnosed.

Illusions can appear in healthy people who have experienced a serious emotional shock. This problem is also typical for patients who suffer from depression or neuroses.

Additional manifestations include the following:

Typical manifestations include somatic abnormalities that are caused by an imbalance in nervous regulation - increased heart rate, severe sweating, shortness of breath, nausea.

Unlike neurotic reactions, psychoses are characterized by serious changes in the personal sphere. In this situation, a person experiences all kinds of hallucinations. They can be not only olfactory, but also visual or auditory. There are also delusional ideas, the perception of the world and behavior changes, and a critical attitude to what is happening is lost.

A feeling of rotten odor often accompanies epilepsy. Such hallucinations are considered an aura that precedes a seizure.

This suggests that the focus of abnormal activity is localized in the temporal lobe.

After a few minutes, a person develops symptoms of a normal attack, which is accompanied by convulsions, fainting, and tongue biting.

Similar signs accompany tumor lesions of the brain, which have the appropriate localization, and traumatic injuries to the skull.

Diagnosis and treatment methods

To identify the causes of such problems, you need to consult a doctor.

Any self-medication options in this situation are strictly prohibited.

Most often, people turn to an otolaryngologist, since diseases of the ENT organs are the most common cause of such problems.

The physician must rule out the presence of objective cacosmia. It accompanies chronic tonsillitis. Also, this symptom may indicate the development of acute or chronic sinusitis.

Sometimes the cause of problems is diseases of the teeth and digestive organs. Therefore, they should also be excluded during diagnostic studies.

If such violations are not identified, you should consult a psychiatrist or neurologist.

Doctors may order a neurological examination. Its purpose is to identify symptoms of damage to the nervous system.

Olfactometry is also mandatory, which helps to detect concomitant olfactory manifestations.

With the help of a psychiatric examination, it is possible to exclude schizophrenia, depression, and dementia. Doctors may also prescribe additional diagnostic procedures:

• electroencephalography – allows to exclude the presence of epilepsy;
• magnetic resonance imaging - helps to identify formations in the brain, circulatory disorders, inflammation, hematomas and degenerative changes in the brain;

A disturbance of perception, when a person hears, sees or feels something that is not in reality, is called a hallucination. There are several types of this disorder according to different types of sensitivity. Olfactory hallucinations deserve special attention. A person does not always go to the doctor with such an atypical complaint as the feeling of foreign odors. But this symptom can hide quite serious diseases, so delaying a visit to the doctor is dangerous.

Symptoms and etiology of olfactory hallucinations

Olfactory hallucinations (phantosmia) involve the sensation of some aromas in the absence of their real source.

There are also olfactory illusions (dysosmia, cacosmia, parosmia), when a person perceives an odor that is not what it really is. These concepts are quite close. Sometimes in practice their differentiation is difficult, but still there is a difference. The pathological nature of phantosmia is recognized by most patients, while visual or auditory hallucinations are perceived by patients as reality.

An olfactory hallucination is described by the patient as a sensation of the smell of rotting, feces, smoke, vinegar, tar, and decomposition of flesh. There are cases where a more pleasant aroma, such as a floral one, is constantly present, but the vast majority complain of a stench. A person, even realizing the illusory nature of this perception, still tries to fight the imaginary stench: opens the windows for ventilation, turns on the fan. It is also impossible to eliminate the sensation of aroma with the help of air fresheners, perfumes or aromatic oils. The smell is supposedly present not only in the air, but also in the food that the patient eats.

Sometimes patients note that the olfactory hallucination began to appear after some memorable event. According to experts, a memory or emotional experience of the patient may be associated with it. For example, the smell of cut grass after working on the lawn, or the smell of smoke after a fire. It happens that after a significant event a person begins to smell a pleasant aroma. However, its constant presence is very painful for the patient, as a result of which living with this feeling becomes unbearable.

The main causes of olfactory hallucinations:

Important! Phantosmia appears only when the central part of the olfactory analyzer, that is, the structures of the brain, is damaged.

Often phantosmia is combined with other olfactory disorders (parosmia, hyperosmia). The mechanism for the occurrence of olfactory hallucinations is the irritation of the hook neurons in the brain. This occurs when a pathological focus forms in this area (inflammation, hematoma, tumor). An important role in the formation of phantosmia is played by disruption of the neural connection between the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex. Olfactory hallucinations may be accompanied by vegetative-vascular (palpitations, sweating, increased salivation), vestibular (nausea, dizziness) disorders.

The localization of the tumor process determines the sequence of olfactory disorders:

Olfactory hallucinations are also characteristic of a certain localization of the epileptic focus. Most often they appear before the onset of a seizure as part of the aura, or occur as simple sensory seizures with secondary generalization. Sometimes patients complain of hallucinations of this nature before the onset of a migraine attack. When the brain is damaged by a herpetic infection (encephalitis), phantosmia sometimes appears in combination with taste hallucinations.

In the case of taking narcotic substances, the presence of various hallucinatory reactions, including olfactory ones, is possible. Sometimes hallucination is the result of intoxication due to poisoning with certain types of chemicals, as well as with certain infectious diseases. In this case, the impaired perception is restored after leaving the state of intoxication. Cases of phantosmia have also been recorded in patients with cerebrovascular accidents, cerebral hemorrhages, and demyelinating diseases.

Hallucinations are also observed in mental illness. For example, schizophrenia is characterized by a combination of delusional disorder and hallucinosis. Patients most often complain of a feeling of cadaverous stench. The same symptoms can be observed with depression. Patients with senile dementia rarely complain of olfactory hallucinations. Sometimes phantosmia is part of the clinical picture of delirium delirium, along with visual images of a zoological nature.

Diagnosis and treatment of pathology

Since patients rarely come to the doctor with complaints of phantosmia, their presence is discovered by chance during the collection of anamnesis when visiting for other symptoms.

Attention! In matters of diagnosis and treatment of phantosmia, you should trust a qualified specialist. Self-medication in this case poses a serious threat to health, and sometimes life.

Often, the patient initially goes to an ENT doctor, believing that problems with his sense of smell are hidden in the pathology of the nose. If the presence of such complaints is observed, it would not be superfluous to exclude objective cacosmia. It occurs with chronic tonsillitis, chronic and acute sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, ethmoiditis, sphenoiditis, and other lesions of the mucous membrane of the olfactory zone of the nasal cavity. Pathologies of the teeth and digestive system can lead to smell disorders, so they should also be excluded.

Next, the diagnosis is carried out by a neurologist or psychiatrist. A neurological examination is aimed at identifying additional symptoms of damage to the central nervous system (dysfunction of the cranial nerves, pathology of reflexes). It is also important to identify associated olfactory symptoms using olfactometry. A psychiatric examination can exclude the diagnosis of schizophrenia, depressive disorder, and dementia. An olfactory hallucination is an indication for a number of additional instrumental examinations:

Treatment of phantosmia is a labor-intensive and lengthy process. It depends on the specific diagnosis:

1. Surgical treatment for operable tumors, brain hematomas.
2. Antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia.
3. Psychotherapy, antidepressants for depressive disorders.
4. Anticonvulsants for epilepsy.
5. Detoxification therapy for poisoning, infectious diseases, delirium alcoholism.
6. Metabolic, nootropic and vitamin therapy for cerebrovascular disorders and degenerative processes.

Thus, olfactory hallucinations are a symptom that cannot be ignored, because you may miss time to fight the underlying disease. The diagnostic and treatment processes in this case require considerable effort on the part of both the patient and the doctor.

Olfactory hallucinations deserve special attention. A person does not always go to the doctor with such an atypical complaint as the feeling of foreign odors. But this symptom can hide quite serious diseases, so delaying a visit to the doctor is dangerous.

Symptoms and etiology of olfactory hallucinations

Olfactory hallucinations (phantosmia) involve the sensation of some aromas in the absence of their real source.

There are also olfactory illusions (dysosmia, cacosmia, parosmia), when a person perceives an odor that is not what it really is. These concepts are quite close. Sometimes in practice their differentiation is difficult, but still there is a difference. The pathological nature of phantosmia is recognized by most patients, while visual or auditory hallucinations are perceived by patients as reality.

An olfactory hallucination is described by the patient as a sensation of the smell of rotting, feces, smoke, vinegar, tar, and decomposition of flesh. There are cases where a more pleasant aroma, such as a floral one, is constantly present, but the vast majority complain of a stench. A person, even realizing the illusory nature of this perception, still tries to fight the imaginary stench: opens the windows for ventilation, turns on the fan. It is also impossible to eliminate the sensation of aroma with the help of air fresheners, perfumes or aromatic oils. The smell is supposedly present not only in the air, but also in the food that the patient eats.

Sometimes patients note that the olfactory hallucination began to appear after some memorable event. According to experts, a memory or emotional experience of the patient may be associated with it. For example, the smell of cut grass after working on the lawn, or the smell of smoke after a fire. It happens that after a significant event a person begins to smell a pleasant aroma. However, its constant presence is very painful for the patient, as a result of which living with this feeling becomes unbearable.

The main causes of olfactory hallucinations:

• head injuries;
• tumors of the temporal lobe of the brain;
• encephalitis;
• epilepsy;
• mental illness, most often schizophrenia;
• migraine;
• taking certain substances.

Important! Phantosmia appears only when the central part of the olfactory analyzer, that is, the structures of the brain, is damaged.

Often phantosmia is combined with other olfactory disorders (parosmia, hyperosmia). The mechanism for the occurrence of olfactory hallucinations is the irritation of the hook neurons in the brain. This occurs when a pathological focus forms in this area (inflammation, hematoma, tumor). An important role in the formation of phantosmia is played by disruption of the neural connection between the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex. Olfactory hallucinations may be accompanied by vegetative-vascular (palpitations, sweating, increased salivation), vestibular (nausea, dizziness) disorders.

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The localization of the tumor process determines the sequence of olfactory disorders:

1. If the tumor is primarily located in the temporal lobe in the secondary center of the olfactory analyzer, then hallucination may be the first sign of pathology.
2. Phantosmia that occurs after the appearance of other neurological symptoms indicates damage to brain structures adjacent to the olfactory centers.
3. When tumors are localized in distant anatomical formations, for example in the depths of the posterior cranial fossa, the appearance of olfactory hallucinations indicates the neglect of the process and an unfavorable prognosis.

Olfactory hallucinations are also characteristic of a certain localization of the epileptic focus. Most often they appear before the onset of a seizure as part of the aura, or occur as simple sensory seizures with secondary generalization. Sometimes patients complain of hallucinations of this nature before the onset of a migraine attack. When the brain is damaged by a herpetic infection (encephalitis), phantosmia sometimes appears in combination with taste hallucinations.

In the case of taking narcotic substances, the presence of various hallucinatory reactions, including olfactory ones, is possible. Sometimes hallucination is the result of intoxication due to poisoning with certain types of chemicals, as well as with certain infectious diseases. In this case, the impaired perception is restored after leaving the state of intoxication. Cases of phantosmia have also been recorded in patients with cerebrovascular accidents, cerebral hemorrhages, and demyelinating diseases.

Hallucinations are also observed in mental illness. For example, schizophrenia is characterized by a combination of delusional disorder and hallucinosis. Patients most often complain of a feeling of cadaverous stench. The same symptoms can be observed with depression. Patients with senile dementia rarely complain of olfactory hallucinations. Sometimes phantosmia is part of the clinical picture of delirium delirium, along with visual images of a zoological nature.

Diagnosis and treatment of pathology

Since patients rarely come to the doctor with complaints of phantosmia, their presence is discovered by chance during the collection of anamnesis when visiting for other symptoms.

Attention! In matters of diagnosis and treatment of phantosmia, you should trust a qualified specialist. Self-medication in this case poses a serious threat to health, and sometimes life.

Often, the patient initially goes to an ENT doctor, believing that problems with his sense of smell are hidden in the pathology of the nose. If the presence of such complaints is observed, it would not be superfluous to exclude objective cacosmia. It occurs with chronic tonsillitis, chronic and acute sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, ethmoiditis, sphenoiditis, and other lesions of the mucous membrane of the olfactory zone of the nasal cavity. Pathologies of the teeth and digestive system can lead to smell disorders, so they should also be excluded.

Next, the diagnosis is carried out by a neurologist or psychiatrist. A neurological examination is aimed at identifying additional symptoms of damage to the central nervous system (dysfunction of the cranial nerves, pathology of reflexes). It is also important to identify associated olfactory symptoms using olfactometry. A psychiatric examination can exclude the diagnosis of schizophrenia, depressive disorder, and dementia. An olfactory hallucination is an indication for a number of additional instrumental examinations:

1. Electroencephalography helps rule out epilepsy.
2. Computed tomography is performed to detect skull fractures and some tumors.
3. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head (possibly with contrast) allows you to visualize brain tumors, cerebrovascular accidents, hematomas, degenerative and inflammatory processes.

Treatment of phantosmia is a labor-intensive and lengthy process. It depends on the specific diagnosis:

1. Surgical treatment for operable tumors, brain hematomas.
2. Antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia.
3. Psychotherapy, antidepressants for depressive disorders.
4. Anticonvulsants for epilepsy.
5. Detoxification therapy for poisoning, infectious diseases, delirium alcoholism.
6. Metabolic, nootropic and vitamin therapy for cerebrovascular disorders and degenerative processes.

Thus, olfactory hallucinations are a symptom that cannot be ignored, because you may miss time to fight the underlying disease. The diagnostic and treatment processes in this case require considerable effort on the part of both the patient and the doctor.

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Phantosmia or when the nose fails us?

Olfactory hallucinations are the most severe symptom of some diseases. People with impaired sense of smell may complain that food smells of ammonia, sulfur, or decomposition. Some people have one smell that they once smelled for a long time.

This condition has a scientific definition - phantosmia. Olfactory hallucinations are just as unpleasant as auditory or visual hallucinations, and also belong to obsessive states.

At the same time, pleasant smells haunt patients less often than unpleasant ones. Patients often complain of the smell of rotten eggs, feces, petroleum products, smoke, and tar. The patient’s behavior at this time is ambiguous; some are tolerant of their condition, while others try to ventilate the room and turn on the fan.

It is difficult to diagnose this condition, since patients do not come with such complaints. A deviation is discovered during a general inspection or for another reason.

Causes of olfactory hallucinations

The main causes of phantosmia include:

• drug use;
• use of certain medications;
• psychotropic substances;
• mental or neurological disorders.

In addition to the fact that the patient reacts sharply to non-existent odors, he may have a reaction to them, for example, increased salivation, loss of appetite. Such reactions indicate a serious problem.

Most often, olfactory hallucinations occur against the background of brain damage. This condition can be caused by:

• traumatic brain injury;
• brain tumors;
• cerebral hemorrhage;
• presence of infection;
• entry of toxins into the blood;
• use of narcotic drugs.

Olfactory hallucinations can be one of the symptoms of epilepsy, hypochondria, schizophrenia, and personality disorder. In rare cases, phantosmia develops due to damage to the sinus mucosa.

This disease manifests itself in different ways. Some patients name smells, comparing them with familiar ones. They say that food and water smell unpleasant, comparing the smell to gasoline, slop, and rotten eggs. Sometimes smells are pleasant, but if they are constantly present, they are also annoying. Sometimes the patient cannot differentiate the intrusive smell from anything from real life.

Many people do not understand that this condition is a disease and do not seek medical help, considering the disorders to be temporary. Some people do not even realize that they suffer from phantosmia.

Sometimes a person is haunted by a smell that once could have influenced his life or was associated with a significant event. For example, the smell of burning rubber may haunt you after a person has been in a car accident. If the temporal lobe of the brain is affected, which is usually observed in schizophrenia, the person experiences putrid odors.

Therapeutic measures

It is difficult to get rid of this condition. You need to be prepared for long-term therapy. The doctor develops a course of treatment based on the cause of olfactory hallucinations, and additionally treats concomitant diseases. The patient’s age, general health, habits and other factors are taken into account.

Sometimes an impending epilepsy attack may manifest as olfactory hallucinations. To find out the exact picture of what is happening, the patient is sent for additional examination. When the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment is carried out. If the cause of this condition is a brain tumor, surgery may be indicated. If phantosmia is caused by taking medications, they are discontinued. In case of drug addiction, the patient may be placed in a drug dispensary.

Currently, very few people have been registered with olfactory hallucinations. This is due to the fact that many of these patients do not seek medical help, not attaching much importance to their condition.

But such a manifestation can be a symptom of a serious illness. These may be signs of epilepsy, schizophrenia, brain tumor, and other mental disorders. All these diseases are difficult to treat in an advanced stage.

Olfactory hallucinations

Olfactory hallucinations are a type of hallucination in which a smell appears in a person’s consciousness that does not correspond to any stimulus and is objectively absent from the reality surrounding him.

Causes of hallucinations

Like other types of hallucinations, this disorder occurs due to the use of narcotic drugs, certain medications, psychotropic substances, as well as due to certain mental and neurological disorders. People experiencing olfactory hallucinations may not only describe the smell in detail, but also react to the imaginary smells by increasing salivation, loss of appetite, etc. The occurrence of this type of hallucination can be a consequence of serious problems, both mental and somatic.

The most common olfactory hallucinations are a direct consequence of brain damage: traumatic brain injury, tumors, hemorrhage and infection of the brain, intoxication of the body with toxic substances and the use of certain types of drugs. The appearance of such hallucinations in a person’s mind can be one of the symptoms of epilepsy and some mental disorders (hypochondria, schizophrenia, personality disorders). In rare cases, odor hallucinations can be caused by damage to the nasal mucosa.

Manifestations of olfactory hallucinations

Many patients who go to the doctor note that the food and water they consume have an obsessive unpleasant odor, for example, the unbearable smell of decomposition or a chemical substance, rotten eggs, plastic, a strong smell of smoke, petroleum products, etc. Much less often, a patient may be haunted by hallucinations of a pleasant smell (flowers, for example), which, due to its obsession, pursuing him over a long period of time, can have an absolutely opposite effect. Among patients suffering from olfactory hallucinations, there are also those who cannot accurately describe and differentiate the smell. Some patients are aware of the painful nature of olfactory hallucinations and are critical of their condition. But in some cases, a person rarely pays attention to such hallucinations, and doctors identify this disorder only when collecting an anamnesis of a particular disease. Therefore, experts suggest that more cases simply have not yet been identified.

People experiencing smell hallucinations should consult a psychiatrist, neurologist or psychotherapist in order to undergo the necessary examination to identify the causes of the disease and make a correct diagnosis. Only by making an accurate diagnosis can a specialist prescribe adequate treatment.

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Obsessive odors as a symptom

Male, 33 years old, non-smoker.

A few months ago the smell of cigarettes began to haunt me.

Since then, I have clearly smelled this smell from time to time. appears unexpectedly. There are no smokers nearby.

The wife is nearby at these moments and says that there is no smell. This happens both at home and in the car.

I tried to search on the Internet, but everything there is about smokers.

I thought maybe this was a sign of some kind of illness in the body.

If you conduct an MRI examination of the brain and no organic changes are detected, you should consult a psychotherapist.

Apart from the smell, is there anything else that bothers you?

What type of lesions can occur with this symptom?

There's nothing else to worry about.

The smell has a clear projection - on the left, on the right, it is not clear where (like inside the body or nose)?

Has your sense of smell and taste changed recently (increased, weakened, other changes)?

I feel like I don’t know where.

I only feel it sometimes.

We used to live in another apartment, and there, especially in the summer, there used to be smoke coming from the balcony - from the neighboring balconies. At such moments, the wife also felt this smell. And it happened that the door to the balcony was closed, but it still seemed to me that there was a smell. And even inside your own car, where no one ever smokes.

I can go 2 weeks without feeling anything, or even a month, and then suddenly I start to smell. It was as if someone had lit a cigarette near me.

Another case - I was in a smoking house for several hours. The smoked cigarettes lay in the ashtray under my nose.

There definitely was a strong smell there, because when I came home, my wife noticed that all my clothes smelled.

After that, even after changing clothes and showering, I had this smell in my nose all evening, at night before bed, and even the next morning, as if I was still there.

Yes. But this is a matter of in-person examination.

I am the wife of a patient, he doesn’t really like to write on forums, so let me continue for him.

Today we had an appointment with a neurologist. During the in-person examination, no problems were identified. The doctor sent me for an MRI of the brain and a test for cerebral seizures (apparently EEG..).

She said that a smell that is not there can precede seizures in the temporal lobes of the brain, and they can be so small that the person does not notice them.

Problems of accurate diagnosis and specific diagnosis lie beyond online consultation.

Your husband writes: Your wife is nearby at these moments and says that there is no smell. This happens both at home and in the car.

Two factors coincide here: the enclosed space and your presence. Could it be that the smell of smoke is coming from you, for example, while walking next to you, someone was smoking. You don’t notice this smell, but your husband does.

The two of us are sitting at the computer, IMHO, what difference does it make who types the text... Well, oh well, we’ll take turns writing.

No, your assumption is excluded. It’s generally difficult to deal with the smell of cigarettes here. This arises unexpectedly for him, but I was at home and continue to be...

In fact, with my suspiciousness, I no longer know where to go, after everything I read on the Internet, the hair on my head began to stand up..

I REALLY hope that this has nothing to do with epilepsy and other horrors..

This happens to him unexpectedly. Try keeping a diary. In any case, it will come in handy. Write down what preceded these sensations, what happened that day. Perhaps some pattern will emerge. By the way, is the smell the same or different?

I can say that the penultimate time this happened, he sat in a stoned house all evening. This can still be explained logically somehow. Although, the next morning, he also smelled this smell STRONGLY...

And the last time it was a crazy day, he had a day off, we were running around with the children, we came home terribly hungry and angry, he went somewhere else to the store, when he arrived, due to hunger we also ran into each other (I needed urgently prepare dinner, and, accordingly, he has to occupy two children at this moment, and when you feel hungry, you know, your mood is not the best). As a result, in the evening, when the children had already gone to bed, and my husband peacefully lay down on the couch watching TV (while I was at the computer at the other end of the room, the windows were closed), he said that he smelled it. And that evening he couldn’t even fall asleep for a long time, he felt it so strongly.

This happens to him (95% sure, since he himself says “I don’t remember, but it seems not”) mostly at our house (we changed apartments, so it’s not about the apartment), once or twice it happened in the car. He won’t remember that this happens at work, or in stores..

and can't stand the smell.

I was nearby and asked my wife to answer.

I was confused by the fact that the doctor said that even if the EEG gives a negative result, this will not mean that there are no seizures,

perhaps they will not be simply defined at that moment.

Hence the question - what reliable studies can and should be carried out to exclude this diagnosis?

Do you think that olfactory hallucinations - in principle, and not in my particular case - may not have an organic origin?

EEG and MRI, face-to-face examination.

Olfactory hallucinations may not be of “organic” origin and occur in some mental disorders.

Not all the files fit, but if the ones I posted aren’t enough, I’ll try to add more.

There is no conclusion yet; it will be sent directly to the neurologist.

I kindly ask you to watch the video, if you can connect neurologists/radiologists.

Waiting for an answer. Thank you.

because I am still seeing a neurologist with suspected seizures.

In neurology there is now a lively consultation,

and I’m sitting in psychiatry and there’s silence here.

I have 13 MRI files. I only posted 5.

I don’t know which are the main ones and which are the secondary ones.

Perhaps something more is needed to complete the picture.

I see smells: how to get rid of olfactory hallucinations

Olfactory hallucinations can be a symptom of serious illness. What does it mean if you constantly see smells? When is medical attention needed immediately?

Olfactory hallucinations are called phantosmia. A person complains of the constant presence of unpleasant odors; familiar dishes begin to smell of sulfur and emit the smell of decomposition. Pleasant aromas haunt people less often.

The main causes of olfactory hallucinations are drugs, taking certain medications or psychotropic substances, mental or neurological disorders. Sometimes the problem is aggravated by a reaction to unpleasant odors - salivation, loss of appetite.

Obsessive odors begin to haunt a person against the background of brain damage:

Benign and malignant tumors;

Infectious lesions of brain cells.

Phantosmia often occurs with epilepsy, hypochondria, and personality disorders. When the temporal lobe of the brain is damaged, the patient with schizophrenia begins to be haunted by the smell of rot. Sometimes olfactory hallucinations occur due to damage to the nasal mucosa.

The smells of sick people haunt people in different ways. For some, it’s the smell of gasoline and slop. Others complain of the constant presence of a pleasant aroma or an odor that is impossible to differentiate.

In case of olfactory hallucinations, it is necessary to do a culture from the nasopharyngeal mucosa, check the flora for sensitivity to antibiotics, and the presence of fungal pathogens. If all results are normal, consultation with a psychotherapist and neurologist is required.

Often people do not seek medical help and consider olfactory hallucinations to be a minor flaw. But phantosmia requires careful diagnosis and long-term treatment. The sooner the cause of the disease is identified, the greater the chances of successfully eliminating it.

How to help someone with olfactory hallucinations:

Do not convince the patient that smells are unrealistic; for him, everything that happens is reality;

You cannot mock or joke at the expense of a patient;

You shouldn’t focus on what’s happening and try to thoroughly figure out what it smells like.

Olfactory hallucinations are a serious condition that may indicate a mental disorder or a brain tumor. Such diseases are difficult to treat in an advanced form. Therefore, if you are constantly haunted by an obsessive smell, you need to consult a doctor.

I can smell smells

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Hyperosmia: heightened sense of smell. Causes and treatment

Hyperosmia is a disorder of the sense of smell, in which even weak odors, barely noticeable to an ordinary person, become pronounced and intense.

Increased sensitivity to aromas is a painful condition and often accompanies certain diseases. But first things first.

How does the human sense of smell work?

The olfactory analyzer, which consists of an olfactory epithelium consisting of several types of cells (olfactory, supporting and basal), is responsible for the perception and recognition of odors.

Olfactory cells are located in the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity and end on the surface with olfactory cilia, which capture odorous molecules.

Each such cell is “attached” to nerve fibers, which are united into bundles called axons.

As a result of the analysis of the main characteristics of the aroma (intensity, quality, identity), its recognition and classification occurs (pleasant, unpleasant, disgusting).

Hyperosmia - what is it? Symptoms of the disease

Hyperosmia is a strong sensitivity to odors present in the environment. A patient who has a heightened sense of smell is able to perceive and recognize subtle aromas.

This condition can lead to headaches, severe migraines, dizziness, pain in the paranasal sinuses, depression and emotional instability, and mental disorders.

Hyperosmia can become a source of problems when a person, trying to find the cause of a painful condition, constantly asks the question: “I smell strongly, why?”

Despite the fact that it seems to an outsider that the problem is far-fetched, people suffering from a heightened sense of smell experience real physical pain and strive to get rid of the disease by any means.

Sometimes olfactory hallucinations are observed, when the patient notes: “I smell a smell that is not there!” Any disturbances in olfactory function require immediate consultation with a specialist.

Increased sensitivity to odors: causes

The sense of smell is a kind of boundary that filters aromas coming from outside. And if for some reason a failure occurs at one of the stages, then olfactory dysfunction develops.

An increased sense of smell may be a consequence of:

For example, an increased sense of smell can be caused by taking certain medications (amphetamines, thiazide drugs) over a long period of time. Stopping the use of such medications leads to a complete restoration of olfactory function.

One of the chronic diseases can affect a person’s sensitivity to odors:

• hypothyroidism (diffuse toxic goiter);
• diabetes;
• hepatitis;
• Turner syndrome.

The sensitivity of the same person to different aromas changes throughout the day. There is a minimum threshold of perception at which a certain concentration of odorous molecules provokes an adequate reaction of the olfactory analyzer.

Thus, men have a lower sensitivity to odors; they rarely complain about a heightened sense of smell. Women, on the other hand, are more likely to experience hormonal changes throughout their lives and are more susceptible to hyperosmia.

It has been noted that a child has a lower threshold of olfactory perception compared to an adult, so children react sharply to unpleasant aromas and more often show emotions in relation to odors.

Increased sense of smell during pregnancy

Increased sensitivity to odors during pregnancy is associated with changes in a woman's hormonal levels. In this case, irritation can be caused by both individual aromas (partial, selective hyperosmia) and absolutely all odorous substances (complete hyperosmia).

After the birth of a child, when the balance of hormones is normalized, acute sensitivity to odors disappears without a trace.

Increased sense of smell during menstruation

In completely healthy women, the reaction to odors changes during one menstrual cycle. This is due to natural hormonal changes.

Most often, women have a heightened sense of smell before menstruation or during ovulation (in the middle of the cycle). The acuity of smell also increases when taking oral contraceptives or undergoing hormonal therapy.

Treatment of heightened sense of smell (hyperosmia) with medications

Hyperosmia is very often one of the manifestations of a disease, so the main treatment is aimed at eliminating the root cause.

If the exacerbation of the sense of smell is caused by acute infectious or pathological processes in the nasopharynx, then therapy should be aimed at restoring the respiratory function of the nose and eliminating the source of inflammation.

Treatment of neurological problems with the help of effective pharmacological drugs that have a sedative and psychotropic effect on the patient’s body will eliminate hyperosmia.

Restoring the functionality of the thyroid gland will require taking medications to compensate for the deficiency of certain hormones.

In severe cases, surgery may be necessary. Restoring hormonal levels will also eliminate painful reactions to odors.

Severe hyperosmia with such unpleasant symptoms as severe headache, dizziness, migraine is an indication for endonasal novocaine blockade, which temporarily reduces the susceptibility of olfactory receptors to odors.

Treatment with folk remedies

Since diffuse toxic goiter is considered one of the main manifestations of hyperosmia, traditional medicine offers the following recipe: place young willow leaves in a saucepan, add cold water, boil until the liquid thickens a little and turns into a concentrated resin.

The willow mass should be lubricated on the goiter at night, and the method should be used as an auxiliary therapy.

Hyperosmia is treatable, which is why, if the sense of smell worsens, you should immediately consult a doctor to find out the cause of the disease and determine an effective treatment regimen.

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Specialty: Otorhinolaryngologist Work experience: 33 years

Specialty: Otorhinolaryngologist Work experience: 8 years

Specialty: Otorhinolaryngologist Work experience: 11 years

The causes of this problem must be found out immediately in order to begin a course of treatment.

In 95% of cases, a symptom indicates the presence of a disease, so it is very important to undergo a diagnostic examination by a specialist. Research will help determine the causes of foreign odors. Therapy started in the early stages will help get rid of the problem in a short time.

Smells in the nose: types and causes

An unpleasant odor occurs in the nose infrequently. According to patient complaints, this phenomenon usually accompanies the underlying disease in the anamnesis. There are many reasons for the occurrence of the symptom, so a comprehensive examination cannot be avoided. At the reception, people complain about a specific unpleasant aroma. Most often it is felt clearly. Such manifestations indicate pathological processes or changes occurring in the nasal cavity.

The manifestation of the symptom became possible due to the anatomical ability possessed by the mucous membrane. It has a large number of special formations - olfactory receptors, which transmit signals from the affected area directly to the brain as quickly as possible. There they are processed and, depending on the underlying problem, the person experiences one of the following foreign odors in the nose:

The burning smell in most cases is a side effect or reaction of the body to long-term use of medications. Classes of medications vary, so the symptom occurs in people with different medical conditions.

A putrid aroma manifests itself in the nasal cavity under the influence of the corresponding microflora. It is a symptom of suppuration of the paranasal sinuses, which can lead to sinusitis or sinusitis. The cause of the ammonia odor is a pathology that occurs in the liver or kidneys. In order for the smell to disappear, you will need to undergo therapy that will eliminate the problem in these organs.

A metallic smell can occur in the event of bleeding in the nasal cavity, injuries that cause damage to blood vessels or tissues.

It may also indicate poisoning or a side effect of certain medications. Particles from the environment enter the nasal cavity when inhaled, resulting in an iron smell.

The sensation of acetone in the nasal cavity occurs due to complications caused by diabetes mellitus. In this case, complex and lengthy therapy will be required. The smell of sulfur occurs when there are problems with the liver, allergic reactions of the body, or disorders of the nervous system.

Important: odors in the nose acquire the greatest intensity during fetid atrophic rhinitis.

Odors arising in the nasal cavity can be felt not only by people who encounter them, but also by those around them.

That is why it is necessary to undergo a special examination by a specialist.

All scents cause discomfort to a person, so getting rid of them is a top priority.

Extraneous odors that cause obvious discomfort in 99% of cases occur when there is a certain progressive disease in the body - a certain cause that requires immediate elimination.

In 5-6% of cases, the presence of aroma in the nasal cavity becomes idiopathic, that is, permanent, the cause of which could not be determined after examination.

The main diseases that affect the possibility of the appearance of all types of odors are:

• ozena or offensive rhinitis;
• acute form of sinusitis;
• inflammatory processes in the sinuses;
• sinusitis;
• metabolic disorders;
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
• kidney pathology;
• liver disorders;
• allergic reactions occurring in acute form;
• bacterial form of infection;
• thyroid diseases;
• diabetes.

A feeling of unpleasant odor in the nose also occurs with parosmia. In this case, disturbances in the function of smell are observed.

No additional stimulation is required to perceive the aroma.

To get rid of this disorder, additional therapy prescribed by a neurologist will be required.

The appearance of an unpleasant odor can also be caused by the presence of a foreign object/body of any diameter in the nasal cavity. As a result, the accumulation of fluid, under the influence of bacteria in which a purulent substance is formed. Pathological disorders are often caused by hormonal imbalance or the presence of olfactory hallucinations.

Symptoms: what you need to know

Symptoms that actively develop and increase in number in proportion to the time that a person does not eliminate the problem, as a result of the presence of odor in the nasal cavity, need to be known in order to seek medical help as soon as possible. Main manifestations:

• severe discomfort in the nose
• headache (especially pronounced in the parietal area);
• difficulty smelling and recognizing other odors;
• dizziness (including without reason);
• nausea;
• vomit;
• depressed state.

In especially advanced cases, pre-depressive states, general weakness and lethargy, apathy, and indifference to what is happening are observed. Sometimes characteristic purulent crusts can form in the nose, which also negatively affect a person upon visual contact.

Basic solutions to the problem

Treatment is necessary when such symptoms appear. You cannot start the process, as well as self-medicate - this can cause a deterioration in your general condition. The medical impact on the problem should be etiological in nature - aimed at eliminating the underlying cause, and not just the symptom itself. That is why there are several types of treatment, which are selected by a specialist based on the results of research:

1. Conservative action is the fight against an infection existing in the body that has caused the formation of odor. The process also removes purulent or mucous crusts. It includes taking medications and sanitizing (rinsing) the nasal cavity. As a result, the unpleasant odor in the nose disappears when inhaling or exhaling.
2. Use of medications - the use of antibacterial drugs in combination with other drugs (oils, drops, sprays).
3. Treatment with herbal remedies - solutions and infusions based on chamomile or calendula, as well as aloe. They are most often used for washing and relieving inflammation.

Sometimes, in advanced or chronic cases, a person can only be helped through surgery. The technique is used in case of blockage of the nasal passage with a mucous or purulent plug, as well as a foreign body. After this exposure, it is recommended to include conservative, medicinal treatments in therapy, as well as the use of herbal remedies for subsequent prevention.

Conclusion

The problem of unpleasant odor is very common. Experts have developed many systems for influencing lesions, so questions such as the smell of dust in the nose and what it is will no longer be scary for a person. As well as the sensation of other unpleasant side odors.

Timely seeking help, well-designed therapy and following all recommendations are the key to a quick recovery. To consolidate the achieved positive result, you can use traditional methods of treatment, but only after obtaining permission to use such drugs from your attending physician.

Directory of main ENT diseases and their treatment

All information on the site is for informational purposes only and does not claim to be absolutely accurate from a medical point of view. Treatment must be carried out by a qualified doctor. By self-medicating you can harm yourself!

Why does my nose smell like dust, burning or smoke?

One of the main functions of the nose is olfactory; it is provided by a large number of receptors that transmit information about the inhaled air to the higher structures of the brain. Sometimes the sense of smell is impaired for various reasons, the main ones being inflammatory processes, polypous growths, tumors and atrophy of the nasal mucosa. Such disorders can be temporary or permanent and lead to partial or complete loss or distortion of the sense of smell. In addition to local causes, some severe systemic diseases also play a role in the development of such pathology. A person may feel discomfort from unpleasant odors that arise subjectively regardless of the quality of the air inhaled, for example, the smell of burning or dust in the nose. Where does this come from and what should be done?

Causes

The feeling of an obsessive odor in the nose may be associated with local or general problems. If the smell is felt only by the patient himself, then we are talking about a violation of the sense of smell; if others also notice this phenomenon and avoid such a person, then, most likely, we are talking about a serious disease, including a systemic one.

An unpleasant odor in the nose cannot be ignored, because it indicates a serious problem of local or general significance in the body.

1. Parosmia is an anomaly of the olfactory system of the nose, which manifests itself in a perverted perception of smells in the form of illusions or hallucinations. It can be observed with neuroses, schizophrenia, hysterical reactions, hormonal imbalance in women (during pregnancy). This diagnosis is made after excluding pathology in the peripheral part of the olfactory analyzer located in the nasopharynx.
2. Inflammation of the nasal mucosa (rhinitis) in the acute or chronic stage - more often in the atrophic form, when there is dryness of the mucous membrane and damage to the sensitive olfactory cells. In this case, the patient may almost constantly be haunted by the smell of dust in his nose, which he wants to wash off with water.
3. Chronic pathology of the nasopharynx - laryngitis, sinusitis, tracheitis, pharyngitis. Constant inflammation of the mucous membrane leads to stagnation of secretions, proliferation of bacteria and the appearance of a bad odor.
4. A foreign body - when left in the nasal cavity for a long time, can support the inflammatory process and the accumulation of bacteria in the muconasal secretion.
5. Allergic reactions - year-round irritation of the nasal mucosa by household allergens contributes to constant inflammation and the addition of a bacterial infection.
6. Long-term uncontrolled use of nasal drops and sprays leads to thinning and atrophy of the mucous membrane, including in the olfactory area.
7. Internal diseases - brain tumor, consequences of skull injuries, diabetes mellitus, kidney failure, thyroid pathology, diseases of the digestive system and others.

What to do

The presence of an unpleasant odor in the nose and its persistence for several days is a reason to visit an otolaryngologist and find out the cause of this condition. At the same time, it should smell like something only to the patient himself (smoke, fumes, dust), but not to others who have a healthy sense of smell. A diagnostic examination includes various research methods depending on the diagnosis suggested by the doctor. If a patient is diagnosed with chronic inflammation of the ENT organs, then treatment will be carried out according to an individual scheme within the scope of prescriptions of the attending physician:

• antibiotics – selected according to the sensitivity of the isolated microflora;
• anti-inflammatory drugs - local hormonal or systemic antiallergic drugs are used;
• washing with saline solutions, herbal decoctions, antiseptics.
• performing surgical interventions - removal of a foreign body, tumors, adenoids, polyps, straightening the nasal septum, etc.

If pathology of the respiratory system is excluded and (or) the patient has parosmia and olfactory hallucinations, doctors of other specialties, for example, neurologists, psychiatrists, gastroenterologists, and endocrinologists, are involved in the examination and treatment.

Elimination of odor in this case will depend on a correct diagnosis and proper treatment of the disease. It should be understood that getting rid of obsessive feelings will not happen spontaneously; if there is a serious reason, then it requires a qualified approach to its elimination.

After watching the video, you will learn about 3 symptoms in the nose that will make you see a doctor:

Do you have a runny nose and have you already bought all kinds of pharmaceutical drops?

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The body's response is to secrete pus, which serves as a source of odors. True, sometimes only the patient himself feels a strange spirit; the unpleasant smell from the nose is illusory - then we are talking about a violation of the sense of smell.

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All articles posted on the site are for informational purposes only. We strongly recommend that you consult a qualified doctor regarding the use of medications and medical examination! Don't self-medicate!

Why is there a smell that doesn't exist?

Smell is one of the senses a person needs to live a full life. And its violations impose tangible restrictions on the emotional state and become a real problem. Among the disorders of smell, there are also those when the patient is haunted by a smell that actually does not exist. Everyone is interested in the question of the origin of unpleasant symptoms, but only a doctor can help determine the source of disorders in the body.

Causes and mechanisms

Smell is perceived through the reaction of olfactory receptors located in the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity to certain aromatic molecules. But this is only the initial section of the corresponding analyzer. Next, the nerve impulse is transmitted to the areas of the brain responsible for the analysis of sensations (temporal lobes). And when a person smells odors that are not there, this clearly indicates some kind of pathology.

First of all, you should divide all the reasons into two groups. The smell may be very real, but is not felt by others until the patient speaks to them at close range. This is likely in the following situations, covering the practice of ENT doctors and dentists:

• Fetid runny nose (ozena).
• Sinusitis (sinusitis, sinusitis).
• Chronic tonsillitis.
• Caries, pulpitis, periodontitis.

These diseases are accompanied by the formation of pus, which gives an unpleasant odor. A similar situation may occur in those who suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, peptic ulcer, cholecystitis and pancreatitis). Food that enters the digestive tract is processed less well, and during belching or reflux, molecules of unpleasant aroma come out. A similar problem may not be noticeable to others if they do not get close.

Some people have a lower olfactory threshold. They smell better than others, so sometimes they encounter misunderstandings from others. Some aroma may be too weak to be detected by anyone else. And this feature should also be taken into account by the doctor.

A separate group of causes are those that are associated with damage to any of the sections of the olfactory analyzer. The emerging odors do not reach others, since their formation, transmission and analysis in a particular person are disrupted. And although the basis for an unpleasant aroma may be some other (quite real) one, the final result is present only in the patient’s mind and poses a problem specifically for him.

There are quite a lot of conditions manifested by impaired sense of smell (dysosmia or parosmia). They include both respiratory pathology with inflammation of the nasal mucosa, for example, rhinitis or ARVI, and other disorders in the body:

• Hormonal changes (during pregnancy, during menstruation or menopause).
• Bad habits (smoking, alcohol abuse, drugs).
• Taking certain medications and chemical poisoning.
• Endocrine disorders (hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus).
• Systemic diseases (scleroderma).
• Traumatic brain injuries.
• Brain tumors.
• Neuroses or depression.
• Psychosis (schizophrenia).
• Epilepsy.

It is also necessary to remember about the so-called phantom odors, which are associated with some kind of stress in the past and left a strong impression. In similar situations they can come to the surface. As you can see, the source of an unpleasant odor can be hidden among a large number of diseases. And some can be quite serious. But you shouldn’t immediately get scared and look for a dangerous pathology - the causes of the disorders will become clear only after a thorough examination.

Why people imagine certain smells is a rather serious question and requires further research.

Symptoms

Any pathology has certain signs. To identify them, the doctor evaluates the patient's complaints, analyzes the factors that precede the appearance of an unpleasant odor, and conducts a physical examination. You should understand when an extraneous odor is felt, whether it is constantly present or occurs periodically, how intense it is, what contributes to its disappearance, and what additional symptoms are present in the clinical picture. Sometimes this alone makes it possible to establish the cause of dysosmia, but not always.

The aroma that haunts the patient may have different colors. Those who drink citrus tea often feel a foreign burning smell, and hot spices can cause a feeling of the presence of sulfur in them. Simultaneously with the distortion of smell, taste also changes, since they are closely related. A bad runny nose, for example, can create the illusion that onions have become sweet and smell like apples.

ENT pathology

The first thing you should think about when complaining of an unpleasant odor is diseases of the ENT organs. When the nasal mucosa is damaged, the sense of smell is invariably impaired, but the patient may not always feel the smell of pus or rot. Most often, a similar symptom occurs with sinusitis, chronic tonsillitis or ozena. In the latter case, the smell is so pronounced that others notice it. But besides this, you need to pay attention to other symptoms:

• Impaired nasal breathing.
• Nasal discharge (mucopurulent or purulent).
• Heaviness in the projection of the paranasal sinuses.
• Dry mucous membranes and crusting.
• Sore throat when swallowing.
• Traffic jams on the tonsils.

If we are talking about acute sinusitis, then the purulent process in the sinuses invariably entails an increase in temperature and intoxication with headaches, but chronic sinusitis gives less pronounced symptoms. With tonsillitis, disorders of the kidneys, heart, and joints are often detected (the result of sensitization to streptococcal antigens). If the sense of smell is impaired due to ARVI, then in the clinical picture, in addition to a runny nose, against the background of intoxication there will be other catarrhal symptoms, for example, redness of the throat and lacrimation.

Pathology of the nose, paranasal sinuses and pharynx is the main cause of the appearance of a foreign odor, which can be perceived by others only upon close contact with the patient.

Digestive tract diseases

An unpleasant odor can also haunt those who suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Impaired digestion of food is the main mechanism of this symptom. The smell of rotten eggs is disturbing in hypoacid gastritis (with reduced acidity) or duodenal ulcer; it does not appear constantly, but after eating. The clinical picture also contains other signs of dyspeptic syndrome:

Many people feel discomfort in the stomach or pain in the epigastrium. And concomitant gastroesophageal reflux causes heartburn and further esophagitis. If the gallbladder is affected, then an additional symptom will be a feeling of bitterness in the mouth.

Psychoneurological problems

Many patients with neuropsychiatric status disorders perceive an odor that is not really there. It can have either a real prototype (illusion) or be based on non-existent connections (hallucination). The first situation can also arise in a healthy person who has suffered severe emotional stress, but it often becomes a constant companion for those who suffer from neurosis or depression. Additional symptoms of the pathology are:

• Decreased mood.
• Emotional lability.
• Irritability and anxiety.
• Feeling of a “lump” in the throat.
• Sleep disorders.

Characteristic signs will also be somatic functional disorders that arise due to an imbalance of nervous regulation (increased heart rate, increased sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, etc.). Unlike neurotic reactions, psychoses are accompanied by profound changes in the personal sphere. Then there are various hallucinations (auditory, visual, olfactory), overvalued and delusional ideas, when the perception of the surrounding world and behavior are disrupted, and there is no critical understanding of what is happening.

The feeling that you suddenly began to smell like rotten meat can occur with epilepsy. Olfactory and gustatory hallucinations are a kind of “aura” that precedes a convulsive attack. This indicates the location of the focus of pathological activity in the temporal lobe cortex. After a few seconds or minutes, the patient develops a typical attack with clonic-tonic convulsions, short-term loss of consciousness, and tongue biting. A similar picture also occurs with a brain tumor of the corresponding localization or skull injuries.

Neuropsychic disorders, as a cause of foreign odor, are perhaps the most serious situation that cannot be ignored.

Additional diagnostics

Smells that others cannot smell are a reason for a detailed examination. It is possible to find out the cause of what is happening only on the basis of a comprehensive diagnosis using a laboratory and instrumental complex. Based on the doctor’s assumption based on the clinical picture, the patient is recommended to undergo additional procedures:

• General blood and urine analysis.
• Blood biochemistry (inflammatory markers, liver tests, electrolytes, glucose, hormonal spectrum).
• Nasal and throat swab (cytology, culture, PCR).
• Rhinoscopy.
• X-ray of the paranasal sinuses.
• Computed tomography of the head.
• Echoencephalography.
• Fibrogastroscopy.
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs.

To obtain maximum diagnostic value, the examination program is developed on an individual basis. If necessary, the patient consults not only an ENT doctor, but also other specialists: gastroenterologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, psychotherapist. And the results obtained make it possible to establish the final cause of the violations and eliminate the unpleasant odor that seemed to patients.

Unpleasant smell from the nose: main causes. How to treat?

Bad smell from the nose is a very common problem. Unfortunately, not all people pay enough attention to it, but bad smell from the nose can be a sign of the development of serious diseases.

First of all, you need to know that the oral and nasal cavities communicate with each other, so we can feel unpleasant odors in the air exhaled from the nose, the cause of which lies in diseases of the oral cavity.

Smokers especially understand this. They inhale cigarette smoke through their mouths and expel it through their nostrils, smelling the smell of tobacco. Therefore, the stench we feel may be due to oral problems. However, there are other factors.

Causes

The causes of this pathology can be varied. For example, the smell of garlic may appear due to the entry of its particles into the nasal cavity.

Pieces of food can get stuck in the nose when vomiting. They interfere with the normal passage of air through the nasal passages. Over time, food begins to decompose, resulting in a foul smell when inhaled.

In adults

Most often, the complaint that I smell an unpleasant odor from an adult patient can be heard in connection with the development of certain diseases. These include:

Unpleasant odor from the nose in a child: causes

The causes of nasal stench in children can be the same as in adults. Most often they are caused by factors such as polyps, adenoiditis and tooth decay.

Polyps are noncancerous, soft, and painless growths that grow in the nasal cavity. Polyps form as a result of chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane due to recurrent infections, allergies, and certain types of immune disorders.

The course of the disease depends on the size of the polyps. Small polyps, as a rule, do not manifest themselves in any way, while large neoplasms can block the nasal passages and lead to difficulty breathing.

Bad odor in the nose with polyps is caused by the development of pathogenic microflora in accumulated mucus.

Adenoiditis is an inflammation of the adenoids caused by a bacterial or viral infection, as well as an allergic reaction. Inflamed adenoids swell and block the nasal cavities, causing mucus to accumulate in them, in which bacteria develop.

This leads to purulent discharge from the nostrils and a stench. Treatment of adenoiditis can be medicinal with the use of antibiotics or surgical.

Ammonia smell

The smell of ammonia can be caused by various reasons. Some of them are not serious and do not require any treatment, while others may indicate the development of complex diseases.

Reasons why you may be experiencing this issue include:

Sweating Excessive sweating is one of the most common causes. Sweat itself does not smell, but when it is exposed to bacteria living on the skin, it produces an unpleasant ammonia odor. Phantosmia This condition is better known as olfactory hallucinations. People suffering from this disorder perceive smells incorrectly.

Why the smell of pus in the nose: reasons

This phenomenon may be due to several circumstances. The terrible sweet smell of pus can occur due to inflammatory processes occurring in the nasal and oral mucosa.

It mainly occurs due to waste products from pathogenic bacteria involved in the inflammatory process. Diseases that contribute to the development of this pathology include:

In addition, it can appear with olfactory hallucinations (phantosmia) and distorted olfactory perception (parosmia).

Sometimes, when examining the oral cavity, it turns out that there is a smell of pus due to the destruction of tooth tissue.

The smell of rot

Sometimes patients complain that their nose smells bad of rotten meat. A putrid odor may indicate the development of an inflammatory process caused by a bacterial infection in rhinitis, sinusitis and rhinoscleroma.

It can smell rotten with ozen - the so-called fetid runny nose, and in children due to a foreign body trapped in the nasal passages.

It can be a bead, a pea, a seed or other small objects that can cause inflammation of the mucous membrane, accompanied not only by a stench, but also by swelling and pain.

Smell of acetone

Like other nasal hallucinations, the smell of acetone can be a consequence of cacosmia. This is a disturbance of the sense of smell, which can be objective or subjective.

With subjective cacosmia, olfactory hallucinations appear due to dysfunction of the cortical analyzer. This may be caused by traumatic brain injury, inflammation of the cerebral cortex, pituitary tumor, schizophrenia, temporal lobe epilepsy, neurasthenia or hysteria.

Objective cacosmia can develop with diabetes, diseases of the liver and pancreas, stones in the kidneys and bile ducts, arthritis and renal failure.

Smell of blood in the nose: causes

Obsessive unpleasant odors in the nose are a common problem that worries a large number of people. The constant smell of blood can especially alarm a person.

In fact, if he does not experience bleeding from the mouth or nose, the causes of this phenomenon are no different from other causes of impaired nasal perception.

These may be inflammatory processes, olfactory hallucinations, systemic diseases such as diabetes. Often the nose smells of blood with pharyngitis.

The smell of burning

Very often people complain that they constantly feel signs of tobacco smoke or burning in the air. The reason for the widespread occurrence of this olfactory hallucination is unknown to doctors.

Presumably, neurological signals of damage sent to the brain first reach the area that analyzes the smells of smoke and burning.

The causes of impaired sense of smell in this case are the same as in other cases of phantosmia - bacterial or viral infection, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, damage to the olfactory nerve and others. In some cases, you may constantly smell burnt after prolonged use of antiallergic drops and sprays.

The smell of iron

The environment may contain substances that have a metallic odor. You can test this by moving away from the area where the smell is particularly strong, or by asking people if they feel the same way. If not, then this may be an internal problem.

Very often, people suffering from migraines complain of impaired sense of smell. In addition to metal, they may think they smell of onions, rotten eggs, or burnt meat.

Another cause of this pathology may be diseases of the palatine, tonsils and gums. Pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity can produce certain volatile components during their life, which our brain interprets as a metallic odor.

This phenomenon can also be a symptom of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, especially at their onset.

How to treat an unpleasant odor in the nose?

What to do if you are haunted by an unpleasant smell in your nose? First of all, it is worth understanding the cause of this pathology. To do this, you need to undergo a diagnostic test.

It may include various research methods, depending on what disease your doctor suspects you have.

If the problem was caused by a bacterial infection, the patient may be prescribed drug therapy. In some cases, surgical treatment is also used, for example, for polyps or adenoiditis.

Some patients are interested in the question of how to get rid of olfactory hallucinations. Since conditions such as phantosmia and parosmia are consequences of other diseases or injuries, in this case it is extremely important to find the root cause.

In any case, treatment begins with contacting a qualified otolaryngologist and quality diagnosis.

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Specialty: Otorhinolaryngologist Work experience: 33 years

Specialty: Otorhinolaryngologist Work experience: 8 years

Specialty: Otorhinolaryngologist Work experience: 11 years

People who suffer from olfactory hallucinations complain that the food they eat smells like ammonia or sulfur and smells like decay. Or, they may be haunted by the smell of a tea rose, which they felt once upon a time, while visiting a flower exhibition. Undoubtedly, a floral smell can be classified as pleasant, but if it accompanies a person throughout his life, then a completely opposite effect occurs. Olfactory ones are otherwise called phantosmia. Their peculiarity is that in their intrusiveness and the unpleasant sensations associated with them, they are in no way inferior to auditory or visual ones, when the patient can perceive them as if they exist in reality.

In addition, with olfactory hallucinations, pleasant smells are much less common; patients are mostly bothered by the rather pungent smells of smoke, petroleum products, tar, feces, bird droppings, rotten eggs; patients often call the smell of a corpse, and much more. Patients treat olfactory hallucinations critically and realize that these are phenomena of a painful nature. At the same time, it is known that many patients try to constantly ventilate the apartment in order to get rid of the non-existent irritating smell, turn on fans for this purpose, and so on.

It has also been established that patients rarely focus their attention on them, and doctors sometimes reveal this disorder only during a survey related to a specific disease. As clinical practice shows, statistical data are incomplete due to the fact that patients in serious condition do not provide accurate information, and it is difficult to collect the necessary information. Therefore, experts suggest that there are many unreported cases. In addition, among patients suffering from olfactory hallucinations, there are also those who cannot accurately identify odors. Usually they just say there is a foreign smell.

Olfactory hallucinations, as well as other forms of this disorder, are caused by a number of reasons, both simple and quite serious, requiring

long-term treatment. The list of the most common causes includes mental disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and various tumors. But sometimes olfactory hallucinations are caused by damage to the nasal mucosa. In this case, solving the problem is much easier. There are people who put up with olfactory hallucinations all their lives, not even suspecting that this condition can be extremely dangerous, as it is an alarming symptom that the body requires immediate help.

It is known that you cannot get rid of phantosmia by smelling something else, for example, spices, perfumes, etc. The patient’s futile attempts to spray air fresheners in the air of the room also lead to nothing. For example, one patient told the doctor that for several years she had been smelling freshly dug earth after landscape designers tidied up the area around her house and prepared the soil for sowing lawn grasses. Another man was injured in a car accident, and after that the smell of cigarette smoke and burnt rubber began to haunt him.

Olfactory hallucinations occur when the secondary center of the olfactory analyzer is irritated, and often accompany epilepsy, manifesting itself in the form of simple sensory seizures that have secondary generalization. In addition, short-term olfactory hallucinations are combined with other types of disorders; they are accompanied by vegetative-vascular and other disorders, and are complemented by taste hallucinations. The cause of olfactory disorders is pathological processes, the localization of which is the area of ​​the hook of the brain. Disturbed communication between the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex also has an impact. Basically, among the causes of olfactory hallucinations, it is most often called. These patients are more likely than others to experience unpleasant cadaveric odors.

Treatmentolfactory hallucinations

The treatment process for any hallucinations is quite lengthy, and doctors are suitable

to this issue, taking into account the main diagnosis and concomitant diseases. The patient’s age, lifestyle, habits, and many other factors also matter. It has been established that olfactory hallucinations are often harbingers, so a person who goes to the doctor with complaints about such phenomena is prescribed a full medical examination, which is not at all a whim of the attending physician, but is an extreme necessity. Only after receiving an accurate diagnosis can a specialist prescribe effective treatment.

When establishing the correct etiological diagnosis, great importance is attached to the history of olfactory disorders. Sometimes patients complain not only of olfactory hallucinations, but also of taste ones. The doctor begins by carefully examining the nasal passages, upper respiratory tract, head, and assessing the function of the cranial nerves. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography may be ordered. Thanks to this study, neoplasms are identified in the anterior cranial fossa, hidden fractures of the cranial fossa are detected, and various inflammations can be identified.