01252nas a2200253 4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653001100065653001100076653001200087653000900099653001600108653002400124653001000148100001300158700001600171245003600187856004100223300001100264490000700275520070200282022001400984 1984 d c1984 Sep10aAdult10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aOlfaction Disorders10aSmell1 aSoni N K1 aChatterji P00aHansen's disease and olfaction. uhttp://ila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v52n3a07.pdf a339-420 v523 a

The sense of smell was assessed in a group of 50 leprosy patients. It was found that 40% of the patients showed a mild to complete impairment of the smell sense (anosmia) which was related to the systemic clinical state and to the severity of nasal lesions. Possible reasons for anosmia in leprosy patients are discussed. It has been observed that anosmia may be the presenting feature of leprosy. Most leprosy patients are not aware of olfactory disturbances, and anosmia may be missed unless specifically looked for. It is emphasized that leprosy should be considered an important cause of anosmia, at least in endemic areas, and in an anosmic patient leprosy should be always excluded.

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