Dysgeusia is a taste disorder, that is characterized by an altered taste. Go through this article for a brief overview about the possible causes of this condition.
Taste is the sensation that helps to detect the flavor of the food and other materials that are ingested. The sensory organs that are responsible for taste are called the taste buds, which are mainly located on the tongue. However, there are certain conditions that can affect the ability to taste. Such taste disorders are classified into four types – parageusia, dysgeusia, ageusia, and hypogeusia. If you experience no taste, then the condition is termed ageusia; whereas a reduced ability to taste is called hypogeusia. In some cases, you may feel a bad taste in anything and everything you ingest. Such a condition is called parageusia. A change in taste that is often described as metallic, foul, and rancid, is called dysgeusia.
While some health experts use it as a collective term to denote all types of distorted taste, some others consider it as a specific type. In short, dysgeusia is a condition, wherein the affected person experiences an altered or strange taste in the mouth. Such an altered taste may occur in any person at some time or other. The affected people may describe the altered taste as metallic, salty, foul, salty, or rancid. For example, eating an ice cream may produce a salty or metallic taste in the mouth. Some of the affected people may even experience an altered smell. This is because the sensations of taste and smell are interconnected. The most common complaint is an altered taste. It has also been noted that dysgeusia can be one of the symptoms exhibited in certain diseases.
Common Causes
- Certain abnormalities of the taste buds may lead to dysgeusia. According to some studies, the affected people were found to have a lesser number of microvilli in the taste bud cells, along with a reduction in the nucleus and cytoplasm.
- Use of certain drugs may also cause dysgeusia. Such drugs include certain types of diuretics, H1-antihistamines, tetracyclines, penicillamine, and metronidazole. While some of them affect the sodium channels linked to the taste bud cells, some others react with metallic ions in the cell membrane. Different drugs affect the taste buds in different ways, but can alter the taste and cause dysgeusia.
- Chemotherapy is often associated with dysgeusia, and is one of the common causes for the condition. This procedure is found to cause various oral problems, like ulceration of the mucous membranes, and infection and malfunctioning of the salivary glands. This is said to be due to exposure of the taste bud cells to the drugs used in chemotherapy.
- Those with zinc deficiency are also found to have dysgeusia. Even though there is no conclusive evidence to prove the role of zinc in causing this taste disorder, it has been suggested that this mineral is involved in the production as well as repair of the taste bud cells.
Apart from the causes mentioned above, there are various medical conditions that are found to be associated with dysgeusia. Some of them are listed below.
- Diabetes mellitus
- Dry mouth syndrome
- Gastric reflux
- Brain damage (especially, thalamus and mid brain)
- Damage to glossopharyngeal nerve
- Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis and Bell’s palsy
- Lead poisoning
- Respiratory as well as ear infections
- Surgeries, like tonsillectomy
- Exposure of the taste buds to certain pesticides
- Menopause and pregnancy
- Oral thrush
- Periodontal diseases
- Smoking
It has also been noted that some people may develop dysgeusia without any specific cause. While in some cases, this condition may disappear, as the underlying cause is treated; in some others, it is almost permanent. Studies show that in most cases, dysgeusia can be cured by treating the underlying cause. In some cases, the condition may subside on its own, without any treatment. So, if you experience dysgeusia symptoms, contact your doctor and get it diagnosed and treated.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice. Visiting your physician is the safest way to diagnose and treat any health condition.
