Ageusia

Sometimes we cannot taste food. We cannot taste sweet or salty things. This can happen when we are sick.

It can also happen from a head injury. A doctor can check your mouth and ears. They might use a tiny strip of food. This test helps them see what you taste.

Not being able to taste can be hard. It can make eating less fun. Some people might even feel sad. It is important to talk to a doctor. Can you taste your lunch today?

Ageusia is when a person loses their sense of taste. They cannot taste sweet, sour, salty, bitter, or umami. Umami is a savory taste. This is different from anosmia. Anosmia is when a person loses their sense of smell.

Many things can cause ageusia. A person might have a cold or the flu. COVID-19 can also cause it. Some people might have damage to their face or jaw. Even certain medicines can cause this loss of taste. A lack of zinc can also make taste buds grow poorly.

Doctors called otolaryngologists help with this. They are ear, nose, and throat doctors. They may use a test called electrogustometry. This test uses tiny electric currents on the tongue. They might also use edible strips. These strips have flavors on them to test your tongue.

Not being able to taste can be hard. It can make eating less fun. This might lead to unhealthy eating habits. For example, a person might eat too many sweet foods. This can be risky for people with diabetes. Diabetes can cause taste changes when blood sugar levels move up and down.

Ageusia is the total loss of the sense of taste. This means a person cannot detect sweet, sour, bitter, or salty flavors. They also cannot taste umami, which is a savory flavor. This is different from anosmia, which is losing the sense of smell. Ageusia is quite rare compared to other taste issues. Some people have hypogeusia, which is a partial loss of taste. Others have dysgeusia, which means their tastes feel distorted or changed.

Many different things can cause this loss of taste. It might happen if the mouth becomes very dry. It can also happen if the taste buds are damaged. Some people lose taste after radiation therapy or facial surgery. Injuries to the jaw, head, or middle ear can cause it too. Even common illnesses like the flu or a cold can do this. Certain medicines, like those for blood pressure, might also be a cause.

Recently, many more people have been diagnosed with ageusia. This happened because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus can affect the gustatory receptors, which are the parts of the body that sense taste. Research shows that different strains of the virus might affect taste in different ways. In Europe, 88% of a group of 400 patients reported taste or smell issues. In South Korea, only 30% of 2,000 COVID-19 patients had ageusia.

Doctors called otolaryngologists help people with these problems. They are specialists for the ears, nose, and throat. They might use a test called electrogustometry to check sensitivity. This test uses very mild electric currents on the tongue. They also use a suprathreshold taste test. This test uses an edible strip that has different flavors on it. The doctor watches to see which flavors the person can still sense.

Losing the ability to taste can be a hard job for anyone. It can make eating much less enjoyable. This might lead to unhealthy eating habits, like eating too much sugar. This is a risk for people with diabetes. Diabetes can cause taste changes when blood sugar levels move up and down. Some people may even feel lonely or sad because of it. Doctors can sometimes help by changing a person's medicine.

Ageusia is the complete loss of the sense of taste. The term comes from the Greek word *geûsis*, which means taste. People with ageusia cannot detect sweetness, sourness, bitterness, or saltiness. They also lose the ability to sense umami, which is a savory flavor. This condition is different from anosmia, which is the loss of smell. Ageusia is much rarer than hypogeusia, a partial loss of taste. It is also rarer than dysgeusia, which is a distortion of taste.

Many different factors can cause a person to lose their sense of taste. Some issues involve the water-soluble molecules that allow us to taste. If the mouth becomes too dry, these molecules cannot function. Damage to the taste buds can also cause ageusia. Medical treatments like radiation therapy might lead to this loss. Physical injuries to the head, jaw, or middle ear are also causes. In some cases, ageusia is caused by nerve damage following surgery.

Illness and medication are other common causes of taste loss. Infections like the common cold, influenza, and strep throat can affect taste. Salivary gland infections or sinusitis are also possible causes. Some medications, such as chemotherapy or anti-seizure drugs, may cause ageusia. Even blood pressure medications or anti-depressants can have this effect. Certain diseases like epilepsy, stroke, or multiple sclerosis may also be responsible. For those with diabetes, fluctuating glucose levels can disrupt the taste buds.

Recent years have seen an increase in reported cases due to COVID-19. The virus can cause both ageusia and anosmia. These symptoms might last for as long as four weeks. Research suggests a link between taste cells and ACE2 receptors. A higher number of these receptors may provide an easy route for infection. The virus might also change the amount of saliva in the mouth. A lack of saliva can eventually damage the cells on the tongue's surface.

Studies show how different regions were impacted by COVID-19 taste disorders. In North America, 61.0% of patients reported these issues. In Europe, the number reached 55.2%. Other areas like South America saw 29.5% of patients affected. Australia reported 25.0%, and Asia reported 27.1%. In one European study, 88% of 400 patients reported gustatory or olfactory dysfunction. However, in South Korea, only 30% of 2,000 cases showed ageusia.

An otolaryngologist, or ENT doctor, usually diagnoses ageusia. They examine the head, nose, ears, and mouth to find the cause. They may use imaging to look for tumors or injuries. One way to measure severity is through electrogustometry. This test applies mild electric currents to specific parts of the tongue. Another method is a suprathreshold taste test. This involves using an edible strip that contains various flavors. The doctor checks which flavors the patient can still recognize.

Losing taste can lead to significant lifestyle complications. It often diminishes the enjoyment of eating. This can lead to social withdrawal, isolation, or feelings of depression. Some people may develop unhealthy eating habits. They might eat too little or consume too much sweet or sour food. This is especially risky for people with diabetes. Treatment often depends on the cause. If a medication caused it, a doctor might suggest a different one. Antibiotics or decongestants may help if an infection is the cause.