Ageusia
Ageusia
Ageusia (/əˈɡjuːziə/; from Ancient Greek α- a-, "without" and γεῦσις geusis, "taste") is the loss of taste functions of the tongue, particularly the inability to detect sweetness, sourness, bitterness, saltiness, and umami (savory). It is sometimes confused with anosmia – a loss of the sense of smell. Because the tongue can only indicate texture and differentiate between sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami, most of what is perceived as the sense of taste is actually derived from smell.
Causes
Ageusia can be caused by damage to the glossopharyngeal nerve, chorda tympani nerve, or lingual nerve, which are all involved in taste sensation. Other causes include certain medications, such as ACE inhibitors, and conditions such as Bell's palsy or Sjögren's syndrome. Ageusia can also be caused by radiation therapy to the head and neck, and by certain systemic diseases such as multiple sclerosis or diabetes.
Treatment
Treatment for ageusia is directed at the underlying cause, if known. For example, if a medication is causing ageusia, the medication may be changed. If a systemic disease is causing ageusia, treatment of the disease may improve the sense of taste. In some cases, ageusia may be permanent, particularly if the cause is damage to the nerves involved in taste sensation.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ageusia
- Wikipedia's article - Ageusia
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