[Dysgeusia in clinical practice. 2. Pathology]

The various types of dysgeusia are discussed and a clinical classification is proposed. Dysgeusia are divided according to the modifications of the intensity of the perception: ipergeusia and ipogeusie/ageusia. The latter are the most frequent and important ones; they are divided in congenital ones, rapidly developing ones, and slow developing ones. A practical way to distinguish among the rapidly arousing ones is to consider the duration of the symptom. If it lasts more than a week the probabilities of an underlying serious illness grow, mainly of CNS. The slow onset ones are most commonly due to general metabolic alterations, among which diabetes, and to common habits, like smoking.