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Smelling an odor that might not be real? It could be phantosmia. Learn more about this condition, including when it could indicate something serious.
You may be experiencing phantosmia or “phantom smell,” defined as smelling something (often unpleasant, such as rotten food, sewage, or something that is metallic or chemical) that simply isn’t there.
Phantosmia is a condition that causes you to smell odors that are not there. Phantosmia has several possible causes, including inflamed sinuses, upper respiratory infection, head injury, brain tumor, medication side effects, and Parkinson’s disease.
Phantosmia refers to detecting smells that aren’t really there. It’s a symptom of many common conditions, including allergies, colds and upper respiratory infections. It could also indicate a brain-related condition, including epilepsy, stroke or Alzheimer’s disease.
Have you ever noticed smells that no one else around you can? Your nose isn’t playing tricks on you. You may have a smell disorder called phantosmia.
Bottom line: If you suspect you are smelling odors that are not there, talk with your healthcare provider. No matter what the cause, help is available—and can significantly improve your quality of life.
Phantosmia symptoms. Some phantom smells are pleasant. However, people with phantosmia more often describe unpleasant, foul, or disgusting odors. These may include: burnt toast. burning rubber....
An olfactory hallucination, known as phantosmia, makes you detect smells that aren't in your environment. The odors you notice in phantosmia are different from person to person and may be foul or pleasant.
Parosmia is smelling something that IS there, but the sense of the odor is impaired. The NHANES survey question asked if people sometimes would smell something bad, unpleasant or burning when no source of the odor could be found. The paper points out that the ability to identify actual existing odors declines as we age.
Phantosmia odours are often foul; some people smell faeces or sewage, others describe smelling smoke or chemicals. These episodes can be sparked by a loud noise or change in the flow of air...