Is it normal to have no smell or taste in one nostril?

Question

Hello, I have been having problems with my nose (congestion and sinus infections etc) for about four years now and had a septoplasty and diathermy of my inferior turbinates 10 days ago. I was wondering though is it normal to have no taste or smell in one nostril? If I cover my left nostril I can't taste or smell but I can when I cover my right nostril. This has been like this since well before my surgery but should the surgery have helped this? Many thanks

Benjamin C. Paul, MD · Answer

To answer your question - a short review on how smell works is probably helpful.  Smell works when an ordorant (a particle in the air) reaches the top of the inside of the nose, where smell is sensed.  When the odorant reaches the receptor, the olfactory nerve (first cranial nerve) carries the message of smell to the brain.  The right and left sides of the nose function independently.  If you have obstruction to air flow in one side of the nose, then you will not smell on that side of the nose as well or at all.  If you have neural damage and the smell reaches the receptor, but the receptor does not send the signal along the nerve, then your brain will not sense smell.In your case, you either have a mechanical obstruction to smell (remnant polyps etc) or have permanent neural damage such that no surgery will improve your smell.  An history explaining how your smell loss started, an examination and CT would be telling. In your case, wait till your swelling resolves as this may block air flow to the olfactory cleft and then decide your next step.Best of luck. Hope this technical answer helps.

Is it normal to have no smell or taste in one nostril?

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Is it normal to have no smell or taste in one nostril?

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Everything you need to know about Septoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.