Abstract

The patient complained of nasal odor and was referred to a psychiatrist by the Department of Otolaryngology as a case of olfactory reference syndrome. The patient had a strong nasal odor. The doctor denied the existence of atrophic rhinitis and rhinophobia. If you look around the internet, there are many who suffer from similar conditions. Almost all of them complain of an unusually dry nose. It was thought that Pseudomonas aeruginosa or some fungus grew abnormally in the devastated nasal mucosa of the endogenous nasal cavity, and due to inadequate nasal secretion, the bacterial metabolites could not be forced down the throat or other parts of the body, giving off a strong nasal odor. This disorder is often neglected or diagnosed by psychiatrists as olfactory reference syndrome. The term “nasal secretion insufficiency syndrome” is used to describe this condition. This is a new concept of nasal odor disease, which remains unnoticed, partly because there is no crusting or atrophy of the native nasal cavity, and partly because endoscopy reveals only the devastation of the nasal mucosa, and partly because it is hidden behind the veil of atrophic rhinitis and ozena. In all seven cases, the foul odor is weakened, albeit temporarily, by the use of salivaenhancing drugs.

Keywords

new concept of ozena, nasal secretion insufficiency syndrome, olfactory reference syndrome, drugs that stimulate saliva production