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Smell or taste problems - NICE guidance - suspected neurological conditions - recognition and referral

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Smell or taste problems

Summary points from NICE guidance relating to smell or taste problems in adults are:

Distorted sense of smell or taste

  • be aware that sudden-onset distortion of sense of smell or taste in adults is rarely associated with structural neurological abnormality and usually resolves within a few months.

Smell or taste hallucinations

  • refer adults with transient, repetitive smell or taste hallucinations to have a neurological assessment for epilepsy.

Loss of sense of smell or taste (1)

Consider neuroimaging for adults with unexplained loss of sense of smell or taste that lasts more than 3 months.

Do not routinely refer adults with loss of sense of smell or taste and normal neuroimaging.

Do not routinely refer adults who lose their sense of smell or taste immediately after a head injury.

Reference:

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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