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Author Spotlight: Assessing the Olfactory Effects of Airborne Pollutants — Buried Food and Social Odor Tests
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Etiologies of olfactory dysfunction in a pediatric population: based on a retrospective analysis of data from an

Valentin Alexander Schriever1, Thomas Hummel2

  • 1Abteilung Neuropädiatrie an der Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany. valentin.schriever@uniklinikum-dresden.de.

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology : Official Journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : Affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
|June 4, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Two-thirds of childhood olfactory dysfunction is congenital, with acquired causes increasing with age. Etiologies differ significantly between pediatric and adult populations, highlighting age-related changes in smell loss.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Olfactory dysfunction is less common in children than adults, but its causes in pediatric populations are not well understood.
  • Understanding the epidemiology of smell dysfunction in children is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the epidemiology of olfactory dysfunction in a pediatric population.
  • To compare the distribution of smell loss etiologies in children versus adults.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of patients consulting a smell and taste clinic from 2000 to 2017.
  • Examination of the frequency of major causes of olfactory dysfunction, with a specific focus on pediatric cases.

Main Results:

  • 164 children were included in the analysis of 7153 patients.
  • Congenital olfactory dysfunction (67%) and head trauma (12%) were the most common causes in children.
  • Sinonasal disorders and upper airway infections accounted for only 6% of pediatric olfactory dysfunction, contrasting with adult populations.

Conclusions:

  • Approximately two-thirds of olfactory dysfunction in children is congenital, with one-third being acquired.
  • The frequency of etiologies for olfactory dysfunction significantly changes from childhood to adulthood.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChildrenEpidemiology of olfactory dysfunctionOlfactory dysfunctionSmell loss

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