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What Causes Altered Sense Of Taste In The Mouth Of A Child?

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Posted on Fri, 15 Sep 2023
Question: For the past 15 months I have a severely decreased or altered sense of taste. For one two week period 6 months ago, all was fine, then instantly bad again. Sometimes a food has NO taste, sometimes a bad taste, sometimes a different taste. Smell also effected.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Please follow up with additional details

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

However, please follow up with the following details so that I can give you a definite answer

- Do you have recurrent allergies, runny nose or blocked nose?
- Do you experience frequent headaches or facial pain?
- Any drooping noticed on one side of the face?
- Any history of head trauma?
- Are you on any medications?
- Do you have acidity issues or Gastroesophageal reflux disease?
- Any neurological issues or memory problems?
- Any other medical conditions like hypertension, high cholesterol or diabetes?

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal, General & Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (1 hour later)
Hi Dr. XXXXXXX

Answers:
No allergies, some seasonal runny nose
occasional headache upon waking, goes away within 30 minutes, not everyday
get 8 hours of sleep regularly
no drooping face
no head trauma
yes, lotsa of medications but have been on all of them for multiple years starting before the taste issue.
no acidity
i am 73, some short term memory issues, but still work and function fine.
controlled hypertension, blood pressure around 120
cholesterol ok
yes, diabetes, A1c too high at 8.5 to 9.0 for last year...working on that....
doctor
Answered by Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Undergo detailed evaluation

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

The taste loss you are experiencing is likely due to the diminished smell sensation. We require a complete sense of smell to enjoy taste.

Given your history, the loss of smell is likely age-related.
However, it is important to undergo a detailed evaluation to identify any other underlying cause.

Detailed ENT evaluation, liver function test, renal function test, vitamin B12 and Hb levels need to be assessed. Reduced vitamin B12 levels, renal or liver function can all affect smell/taste.

Another important consideration is that if you are on antihypertensive medications like captopril, internal, calcium channel blocker etc to make a few, have also been identified to cause loss of smell and/or taste.

So please be advised to follow up with your primary to discuss these possibilities and necessary evaluation.

Hope this answers your question.

Regards,
Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal, General & Family Physician

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy
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Answered by
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Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 3808 Questions

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What Causes Altered Sense Of Taste In The Mouth Of A Child?

Brief Answer: Please follow up with additional details Detailed Answer: Hello, However, please follow up with the following details so that I can give you a definite answer - Do you have recurrent allergies, runny nose or blocked nose? - Do you experience frequent headaches or facial pain? - Any drooping noticed on one side of the face? - Any history of head trauma? - Are you on any medications? - Do you have acidity issues or Gastroesophageal reflux disease? - Any neurological issues or memory problems? - Any other medical conditions like hypertension, high cholesterol or diabetes? Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal, General & Family Physician