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Olfactory Dysfunction in Children: A Scoping Review
Jennifer Eva Payandeh1, Mehras Motamed1, Keshinisuthan Kirubalingam1
1Faculty of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Pediatric olfactory dysfunction stems from 45 identified causes, both congenital and acquired. Clinicians need a diagnostic approach, and safety education is crucial when the cause remains unknown.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Olfactory disorders are extensively studied in adults, but research on pediatric olfactory dysfunction is limited.
- Understanding the causes and management of smell loss in children is crucial for their development and safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify known causes of olfactory loss in pediatric populations.
- To assess the utilization and validity of smell tests in children.
- To summarize current therapeutic strategies for pediatric olfactory dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- A systematic scoping review of PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases was conducted in September 2020.
- Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full-texts based on predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria.
- Data extracted included study characteristics, participant demographics, olfactory dysfunction evidence, smell test details, etiology, and therapies.
Main Results:
- 103 articles involving 1654 participants were included in the final analysis.
- The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test was the most common smell assessment tool (21% of studies).
- A total of 45 causes were identified: 22 congenital and 23 acquired olfactory dysfunctions.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric olfactory dysfunction presents with diverse etiologies, necessitating a structured diagnostic approach for clinicians.
- Few specific therapies were identified, often tailored to the underlying cause.
- When etiology is unclear, patient and caregiver education on safety related to smell loss is paramount.
Objective:
Olfactory disorders are well-studied in the adult population, however, there is a paucity of literature characterizing olfactory dysfunction in pediatric patients. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify known causes of olfactory loss in pediatric populations, clarify the extent of use and validity of smell tests, and summarize current therapies for olfactory loss.
Data Sources:
PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Web of Science.
Review Methods:
Databases were systematically searched in September 2020. Two independent reviewers conducted the title and abstract screen, followed by review of full-texts for inclusion based on preset inclusion and exclusion criteria. Extracted data included study type, age/age-range of participants, gender, radiological evidence of olfactory dysfunction, types and results of smell tests used, etiology of olfactory loss, and therapies employed for olfactory loss.
Results:
A total of 103 articles (n = 1654) were eligible for final data extraction. The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test was used most frequently for smell testing (21% of studies). In total, 45 causes of olfactory dysfunction have been elucidated by this study: 22 congenital and 23 acquired. Few therapies were described, and all were specific to the etiology of olfactory loss.
Conclusion:
Olfactory dysfunction has a wide range of etiologies in the pediatric population, and clinicians should have a diagnostic algorithm for how to identify a cause should they encounter it in practice. If no etiology can be identified, education around safety should be provided to both the patient and their caregivers.
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