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What Causes The Constant Presence Of Burning Chemical Smell?
Question: Hello,
I need answers. For the past few months, i have been smelling the same smell everywhere i go. its like a burning, chemical smell. It's not constant and I don't typically smell it at home, but I smell it outside, in stores, etc. I now have distorted smelling and tasting as well. All perfumes smell the same to me, which just smells chemically and I cannot tell which perfume is which, certain foods smell and taste foul too. I have been reading a lot and I have a lot of the same symptoms as Parosmia. The only thing is, I haven't had a cold or the flu and I haven't had a brain/head injury. I will say this, I have been dieting sine the end of August and I have been eating a very low calorie diet, around 600 calories or so and I have lost 25lbs. I am reading zinc deficiencies and b12 deficiencies can cause taste and smell disorders. Will this go away? How long does this typically take?! What do you think this is?!
I need answers. For the past few months, i have been smelling the same smell everywhere i go. its like a burning, chemical smell. It's not constant and I don't typically smell it at home, but I smell it outside, in stores, etc. I now have distorted smelling and tasting as well. All perfumes smell the same to me, which just smells chemically and I cannot tell which perfume is which, certain foods smell and taste foul too. I have been reading a lot and I have a lot of the same symptoms as Parosmia. The only thing is, I haven't had a cold or the flu and I haven't had a brain/head injury. I will say this, I have been dieting sine the end of August and I have been eating a very low calorie diet, around 600 calories or so and I have lost 25lbs. I am reading zinc deficiencies and b12 deficiencies can cause taste and smell disorders. Will this go away? How long does this typically take?! What do you think this is?!
Brief Answer:
Yes, it could be diet related. Should get better
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. Parosmia / Cacosmia which includes getting the same smell everywhere and distorted smell and taste can be due to many causes such as:
a. Nasal allergy, infections and Chronic RhinoSinusitis (CRS).
b. Damage to the olfactory system due to any severe infection, head injury, exposure to solvents and volatile chemicals. What is your occupation?
c. Metabolic diseases such as hypothyroidism, liver dysfunction. Do you smoke or have alcohol? Have you undergone blood tests?
d. Rarely, degenerative brain disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Have you ever suffered from Epilepsy?
e. Drug induced: You are taking multiple drugs which have nasal and neurological side effects. Discuss and review your medication with a physician and an ENT Specialist.
2. Get a general check-up done as many diseases such as diabetes, liver diseases, nasal polyps, tumors and so on should be ruled out. This is not possible without consulting a doctor.
3. The sinuses may harbor silent infection. Fungal infections may exist only within the sinuses (as against invasive fungal infections) and yet cause allergic reactions. This constitutes Allergic Fungal Rhino Sinusitis (AFRS). Such fungal infections may be missed out on CT Scans and requires MRI Scans to detect. If there is nasal and sinus inflammation you may take a trial of treatment including antibiotics, anti-allergic decongestants, saline nasal washes, mouthwashes, tongue cleaning, anti-reflux medication and probiotics.
4. Deficiencies of Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Magnesium can also cause similar symptoms. However, deficiencies are fairly easy to treat. A high protein diet may also cause these symptoms. Hence your diet may have a role here. Get your liver and renal function tests done.
5. If no cause is found, it may be a an olfactory hallucination. Is it possible for any other person experience this from your breath? If yes, then there is a cause that can be found. If this smell is apparent to others, it is unlikely to be an olfactory hallucination or damage to the (olfactory) smell area of the nose. If not, then this is true parosmia / cacosmia / phantosmia. Viral infections such as influenza can cause this for years after the infection. A neurological reference will be required. Early Parkinson's Syndrome may present as phantosmia. This a commonly seen with damage to the olfactory mucosa or olfactory bulb and tract, esp. some years after a head injury. This will show up on imaging such as CT/MRI. Do you have any occupational exposure to extreme cold, constant air conditioning or chemicals? Conditions like atrophic rhinitis, post nasal drip and acid reflux may also co-exist.
6. If these investigations are within normal limits there is a possibility that you should get better in time. The recovery time is not predictable. You may follow up with the answers to the above questions, results of the above investigations and treatment for further recommendations.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Yes, it could be diet related. Should get better
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. Parosmia / Cacosmia which includes getting the same smell everywhere and distorted smell and taste can be due to many causes such as:
a. Nasal allergy, infections and Chronic RhinoSinusitis (CRS).
b. Damage to the olfactory system due to any severe infection, head injury, exposure to solvents and volatile chemicals. What is your occupation?
c. Metabolic diseases such as hypothyroidism, liver dysfunction. Do you smoke or have alcohol? Have you undergone blood tests?
d. Rarely, degenerative brain disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Have you ever suffered from Epilepsy?
e. Drug induced: You are taking multiple drugs which have nasal and neurological side effects. Discuss and review your medication with a physician and an ENT Specialist.
2. Get a general check-up done as many diseases such as diabetes, liver diseases, nasal polyps, tumors and so on should be ruled out. This is not possible without consulting a doctor.
3. The sinuses may harbor silent infection. Fungal infections may exist only within the sinuses (as against invasive fungal infections) and yet cause allergic reactions. This constitutes Allergic Fungal Rhino Sinusitis (AFRS). Such fungal infections may be missed out on CT Scans and requires MRI Scans to detect. If there is nasal and sinus inflammation you may take a trial of treatment including antibiotics, anti-allergic decongestants, saline nasal washes, mouthwashes, tongue cleaning, anti-reflux medication and probiotics.
4. Deficiencies of Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Magnesium can also cause similar symptoms. However, deficiencies are fairly easy to treat. A high protein diet may also cause these symptoms. Hence your diet may have a role here. Get your liver and renal function tests done.
5. If no cause is found, it may be a an olfactory hallucination. Is it possible for any other person experience this from your breath? If yes, then there is a cause that can be found. If this smell is apparent to others, it is unlikely to be an olfactory hallucination or damage to the (olfactory) smell area of the nose. If not, then this is true parosmia / cacosmia / phantosmia. Viral infections such as influenza can cause this for years after the infection. A neurological reference will be required. Early Parkinson's Syndrome may present as phantosmia. This a commonly seen with damage to the olfactory mucosa or olfactory bulb and tract, esp. some years after a head injury. This will show up on imaging such as CT/MRI. Do you have any occupational exposure to extreme cold, constant air conditioning or chemicals? Conditions like atrophic rhinitis, post nasal drip and acid reflux may also co-exist.
6. If these investigations are within normal limits there is a possibility that you should get better in time. The recovery time is not predictable. You may follow up with the answers to the above questions, results of the above investigations and treatment for further recommendations.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your response. I was tested earlier in the year with blood work just a routine check up and everything was normal. I was just tested for thyroid, diabetes, etc as i am going through fertility treatment to get pregnant. I just want some type of reassurance that its not a brain tumor and most likely due to diet because i have very bad medical anxiety. I was trying to drop weight fast because i am trying to get pregnant and believe i was a bit malnourished. I cut out carbs for 2 months. I just started introducing carbs back in my diet a week ago today. Please help me feel better and tell me its nothing serious. This is a happy time for me and this whole smell and taste thing just has me sad abd depressed.
Brief Answer:
There is no cause for worry.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. It is good to hear that your tests were normal. This helps rule out most of the major causes.
2. Brain tumors are extremely rare. An MRI Scan can easily help rule these out conclusively.
3. This seems to be diet, nutrition deficiency or hormone related and should recover soon.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
There is no cause for worry.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. It is good to hear that your tests were normal. This helps rule out most of the major causes.
2. Brain tumors are extremely rare. An MRI Scan can easily help rule these out conclusively.
3. This seems to be diet, nutrition deficiency or hormone related and should recover soon.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you very much. My hormones are in normal range because i just got a ton of bloodwork for pregnancy workup. I wanted to also tell you that my spouse started the diet with me and was complaining of a cigarette smoke smell for a while but it has since gone away. The smell was there for a couple months and then just went away on its own. So, your guess would be from diet, malnourishment or high protein, low calorie diet?! Any idea how lobg this can last up to?! I also wanted to mention that a female doctor originally replied on here, she was a psychiatrist and made me very nervous saying it could be organicity. any clue why she would have wrote that :(When i read that, i was beyond nervous and i felt like she didnt take the time to read my symptoms, etc. I then asked for anotger doctor and thats when you replied. Her response was deleted and i never heard back from her?!?! Any clue?!
Thanks again!!
Thanks again!!
Brief Answer:
Multiple medical opinions always help.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. Women have a keener sense of smell. That is why it is more distressing for you than your spouse.
2. Anosmia or parosmia are uncommon complaints and are extremely difficult to treat. Organicity is one of the many causes.
3. This is the reason that multiple medical opinions are recommended even in direct consultations.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Multiple medical opinions always help.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. Women have a keener sense of smell. That is why it is more distressing for you than your spouse.
2. Anosmia or parosmia are uncommon complaints and are extremely difficult to treat. Organicity is one of the many causes.
3. This is the reason that multiple medical opinions are recommended even in direct consultations.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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