HAS THE MTXX KNOWN ABOUT ANOSMIA ISSUE SINCE OCT 2000?
"Given the above, further investigation of the olfacotry effects of the Zicam nasal inhaler is warranted."
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OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS / Anosmia due to inhalational zinc: a case report
C.A. DeCook and A.R. Hirsch*
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Volume 25
Number 5 ECRO AChemS Jasts
October 2000
ISSN 0379 864X Coden Chsed8 OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
225. Anosmia due to inhalational zinc: a case report
C.A. DeCook and A.R. Hirsch*
Rush Medical College and *The Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, Chicago, IL, USA
A 47-year-old married white male with no past history of chemosensory difficulties experienced the sensation "as if a cold were coming on" and tiredness. No fever, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, cough or malaise were present. To prevent the development of an upper respiratory tract infection. Zicam nasal inhaler was applied as per the manufacturer's specifications -- one application per nostril, with deliver of -250 mg of zinc per inhalation. He immediately experienced severed right perirobital pain and anosmia. The pain resolved in day, but the anosmia persisted. Despite treatment with Zithromax and Prednisone, the olfactory ability did not return, precipitating a visit to a chemosensory clinic 1 month later. At that time, olfactory testing demonstrated anosmia, with an UPSIT score of 20. Alcohol Sniff Test of 6 cm and olfactory threshold to Carbinol at an irritant level of >35 decismels in both nostrils. Isovaleric acid, 2.3-butanedione, pentadecalactone, phenylethyl alcohol and tetra-hydrothiphene were absent at 25 decismels. (sobutyl) isobutyrate and L-carvone were intact at 25 decismels. The patient never developed a cold, nor had any underlying illnesses which could account for the chemosensory deficits. Ionic zinc instilled directly on the olfactory epithelium appears to be the pathogen in this patient's smell loss. Given the above, further investigation of the olfacotry effects of the Zicam nasal inhaler is warranted. |
