ABSTRACT
Dysfunction of taste perception is a significant problem for many individuals. Taste anomalies may affect health not only by directly affecting liquid and solid food intake, but also by creating a state of depression due to the loss of an important source of pleasure. Many factors alter taste perception, such as lesions of the oral mucosa, cigarette smoking, radiation, chemotherapy, renal disease, hepatitis, leprosy, hormones, nutrition, use of dentures, medications, and aging. Gum or ice chewing may temporarily help loss of taste. Patients should be encouraged to chew their food thoroughly, alternating the sides of the mouth, or alternating different foods. Unfortunately, in many cases there is no cure for this alteration, and patience is then the only possibility.
Subject(s)
Taste Disorders/etiology , Age Factors , Dentures/adverse effects , HumansABSTRACT
An electrogustometric study of 225 cases of Hansen's disease revealed impairment of taste in 55.1% of the cases. It was related to the duration of the disease, and was seen in 74.6% of the cases of lepromatous leprosy, 49.3% of the cases of borderline leprosy, and 41.3% of tuberculoid leprosy cases. Only in lepromatous cases was complete ageusia seen (9.39% of cases). All of the cases having lesions in the oropharynx and those with facial nerve palsy revealed impairment of taste, but it was not related to the type of antileprosy drug used or to the development of ENL reaction.
Subject(s)
Leprosy/complications , Taste Disorders/etiology , Adolescent , Adult , Ageusia/etiology , Clofazimine/therapeutic use , Dapsone/therapeutic use , Erythema Nodosum/complications , Facial Paralysis/complications , Female , Humans , Leprosy/drug therapy , Male , Rifampin/therapeutic useABSTRACT
The sense of taste was assessed in a group of 30 leprosy patients. The method used and the results are presented. Twelve patients (40 per cent) showed some degree of impairment of taste sensation and this was shown to be related to the severity of the disease. The possible reasons for the loss of taste are discussed.