Anosmia is?

Appeared in: AIIMS BBSR SNO - 2019

Explanation

Anosmia is the medical term for the complete or partial loss of the sense of smell.
This condition occurs when there is a problem with the pathway that allows the brain to identify smells.
Common causes include nasal congestion from a cold, allergy, or sinus infection; nasal polyps; injury to the nose and smell nerves from surgery or head trauma; and viral infections like COVID-19.

Option A: This option describes dysphagia, which is the medical term for difficulty in swallowing.
Option B: This option describes anorexia, which is a lack or loss of appetite for food.
Option C: This option describes malabsorption, a condition where the small intestine cannot absorb enough nutrients from food.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Medical Terminology: Definition of Anosmia as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse should assess for anosmia in patients with recent upper respiratory infections (especially COVID-19), head trauma, or neurological complaints, as it can be an early sign of disease (e.g., Parkinson's disease).
Patient safety education is a critical nursing intervention for individuals with anosmia. This includes advising on the use of smoke and natural gas detectors and being cautious with food by checking expiration dates, as they cannot rely on smell to detect danger.
What if? If a patient complains that food 'has no taste,' the nurse should first clarify if the issue is with taste (ageusia) or smell (anosmia). Since smell contributes significantly to flavor, assessing the olfactory nerve (CN I) is a crucial first step.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the keyword in the question stem, which is 'Anosmia'.
Recognize that this is a factual recall question asking for the definition of a medical term.
Access your knowledge of medical terminology related to sensory functions.
Evaluate each option: 'Difficulty in swallowing' is dysphagia, 'Lack of appetite' is anorexia, 'Inadequate absorption' is malabsorption.
Conclude that 'Loss of sense of smell' is the correct definition of anosmia.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q6a7dcrD8Evhr7CsQvPyY4

E6 Physiology Guyton 4SAE Part 3 p. 125-127

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 281-283

Practise the full AIIMS BBSR SNO - 2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.