| Definition: | Taste impairment ranges from distorted taste to a complete loss of taste.
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| Alternative Names: | Loss of taste; Metallic taste; Dysgeusia
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| Considerations: | The tongue can "taste" only sweet, salty, sour, and bitter sensations. Much of what is perceived as "taste" is actually smell.
Taste abnormalities can be caused by anything that interrupts the transfer of taste stimuli to the brain, or conditions that affect the way the brain interprets taste stimuli.
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| Common Causes: | - common cold
- nasal infection, nasal polyps, sinusitis
- salivary gland infections
- influenza
- viral pharyngitis
- mouth dryness
- aging (the number of taste buds diminishes with age)
- heavy smoking (especially pipe smoking) which causes mouth dryness
- vitamin (vitamin B-12) or mineral (Zinc in diet) deficiency
- injury to the mouth, nose, or head
- gingivitis
- side effects of drugs such as antithyroid drugs, captopril, griseofulvin, lithium, penicillamine, procarbazine, rifampin, vinblastine, or vincristine
- Bell's palsy
- Sjogren's syndrome
- strep throat
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