hajuongelmien

Hajuongelmat, literally “smell problems,” refer to a range of conditions in which an individual experiences an abnormal odor perception or distress related to odors. These issues can be classified into olfactory disorders, such as anosmia (loss of smell), hyposmia (reduced sense of smell), parosmia (distorted odor perception), and phantosmia (olfactory hallucinations). While these conditions can be triggered by nasal infections, head trauma, neurological diseases, or chronic rhinosinusitis, they are also associated with environmental exposure to chemicals, smoking, and certain medications.

The prevalence of hajuongelmien varies by age and population. Epidemiological studies in European countries have reported that up to 5% of adults experience some form of olfactory dysfunction. The situation has been accentuated during the COVID‑19 pandemic, where a significant proportion of infected individuals reported anosmia or parosmia as early symptoms, indicating the virus’s impact on olfactory receptors and supporting structures.

Diagnosis typically involves a clinical history combined with standardized smell identification tests, such as the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) or the Sniffin’ Sticks battery. Imaging modalities, including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, are employed to exclude structural causes. Management focuses on treating underlying causes—antibiotics for bacterial sinusitis, corticosteroids for allergic rhinitis, or vitamin A supplementation in certain cases. In situations where pharmaceutical interventions are ineffective, olfactory training, which entails repeated exposure to a set of chosen odors over months, has shown modest improvements in olfactory sensitivity.

Research into hajuongelmien is ongoing. Current investigations explore regenerative therapies targeting olfactory epithelium, the role of inflammatory mediators, and neuroimaging of the central olfactory networks to better understand the neurological basis of smell disorders. The field remains multidisciplinary, bridging otolaryngology, neurology, and psychiatry, given the strong link between olfactory dysfunction and mood disorders.