Olfactory Dysfunction in Allergic Rhinitis.

Abstract

Olfactory dysfunction (OD) can have serious consequences as it hinders individuals from detecting important warning signals like smoke, spoiled food, and gas leaks. This can significantly impact their nutritional status, eating satisfaction, and overall quality of life. Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disease that greatly affects the quality of life and can lead to a decrease, distortion, or complete loss of olfactory ability. There are various tools available for diagnosing OD, ranging from simple screening tests to more detailed and complex methods such as electrophysiological and imaging procedures not available in everyday practice but reserved for experimental studies. The underlying mechanisms by which AR impacts olfactory ability are still not fully understood and are likely to be multifactorial. Current therapeutic options for OD resulting from AR are limited and only provide partial or temporary relief from olfactory impairment. However, there are promising treatments investigated such as biologics, olfactory training, neural stem cell transplantation, and various novel target therapies that might help improve OD in AR in the future. This review aims to evaluate the epidemiology, mechanisms, and detection of OD in AR, as well as provide an overview of the management strategies for OD secondary to AR.