A comparative study of qualitative and quantitative dysgeusia

DOI
  • Nishii Tomoko
    Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine
  • Nin Tomomi
    Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine
  • Umemoto Masanori
    Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine
  • Maeda Emi
    Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine
  • Sakagami Masafumi
    Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 質的および量的味覚異常の比較検討

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Description

Four hundred and thirty-five patients with idiopathic or zinc deficiency-caused taste disorders were classified into qualitative （271 subjects） and quantitative （164 subjects） dysgeusia groups. Age, taste function, serum zinc value, results of a psychological test （Self-rating Depression Scale: SDS）, therapeutic effects, and the rate of improvement were compared between the two groups.<br>The age and the rate of normal serum zinc levels were significantly higher in the qualitative dysgeusia group than in the quantitative group （p＜0.01）. While no significant difference in electrogustometry was observed between groups, the thresholds of the filter paper disc were significantly lower in the qualitative dysgeusia group （p＜0.001）, and there were no significant differences in SDS between the two groups. Although the rate of improvement in the qualitative dysgeusia group was lower than in the quantitative dysgeusia group, this difference was not statistically significant.<br>In the qualitative dysgeusia group, there were many cases in which zinc therapy appeared to be ineffective （p＜0.001）. Some of the patients who did not positively respond to zinc therapy were given herbal medicines or anxiolytic drugs, which were effective in a few of the patients. It has been suggested that some patients with qualitative dysgeusia, especially those who suffer from phantom taste, experience conditions similar to burning mouth syndrome, and close resemblances are observed between clinical characteristic of the two diseases. In addition, qualitative dysgeusia may be associated with aging, since herbal medicines influence various aging-related health changes.

Journal

  • Stomato-pharyngology

    Stomato-pharyngology 31 (1), 131-135, 2018

    Japan Society of Stomato-pharyngology

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