Recognising symptoms of ageusia

Someone with true ageusia cannot identify sweet, salty, sour, bitter, or savoury sensations. If these remain but foods lack their familiar character, reduced smell may be the main issue.

Partial taste loss is called hypogeusia. Dysgeusia describes an altered sensation, such as a metallic, bitter, or otherwise unpleasant taste. These experiences can affect enjoyment of meals, appetite, and the ability to notice spoiled food.

Congestion, cough, sore throat, fever, dry mouth, mouth pain, or reduced smell may accompany the change depending on its cause. A common cold often presents with congestion that dulls flavour. COVID-19 can present with smell or taste disturbance, and Long COVID may include symptoms that persist beyond the initial infection.

Try familiar scents and basic foods separately, without using anything that could irritate the nose or mouth. Record which sensations are absent or altered, whether one nostril seems different, and how the problem affects eating. Include the onset, recent illness, dental symptoms, injuries, and medicine changes in your notes.

Until sensation returns, follow food storage dates, keep smoke and gas alarms functional, and avoid compensating with large amounts of salt or sugar. Choose nourishing foods with appealing colour, texture, and temperature and maintain regular fluids.

Contact a clinician if the change is persistent, worsening, unexplained, or associated with difficulty maintaining food or fluid intake. An examination can distinguish nasal obstruction from mouth, medicine-related, or neurological factors.

Call for urgent medical help when loss of taste begins alongside facial droop, limb weakness, trouble speaking, confusion, severe sudden headache, fainting, breathing difficulty, or swallowing difficulty. Urgent assessment is also appropriate after a serious head injury.

Ask how your clinician will separate taste loss from smell loss, whether an oral or nasal examination is needed, and whether current medicines could explain the timing. Discuss any weight change, dehydration, persistent altered taste, or safety incident involving food, smoke, or gas.