What is ageusia or pathological loss of taste

The term “ageusia” is formed from the Greek root “geũsis”, taste, and the privative A. This means that a person with ageusia has lost the sense of taste.

For fans of Louis de Funes who crosses generations, it is the disease he suffers in the film L'Aile ou la cuisse with Coluche, whose father he plays, Charles Duchemin. Nutrident.fr explains where ageusia comes from and what are its consequences.

What is ageusia?

Our tongue has sensors called taste buds that act as chemoreceptors and analyze our food. These taste buds allow us to appreciate our food and they also serve to know what is edible or, on the contrary, constitutes a poison. The taste buds use nerves to transmit information to the brain.

Each part of the language has its own specificity. The bottom part of the mouth reacts to bitterness, the sides to saltiness and acidity, and the tip of the tongue is more sensitive to sweetness.

When the taste buds no longer function, we speak of ageusia.

What are the consequences of ageusia?

ageusia can be partial or total, temporary or permanent. The discomfort of ageusia is that the loss of taste creates frustration because you no longer find pleasure in eating. This can lead to eating disorders, such as bulimia or anorexia.

What are the causes of ageusia

There are many causes of ageusia . Heredity is not neutral, “having a palate” can be worked on, but you have – or not – innate dispositions.

Any accident, injury or burn can cause it. If you suffer from facial paralysis, burns to your tongue or have been poisoned by toxic products, your tongue loses its faculties, temporarily or permanently, depending on the severity of the accident.

Because the entire ENT system is linked, when you have an airway disease, your taste is limited.

All pathologies related to the mouth negatively influence your sense of taste: dental problems, hormonal and degenerative diseases, Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome, tumors, dry mouth sensation(xerostomia), gastroesophageal reflux, etc.

Some medications and medical treatments are also responsible for ageusia. Smoking is an aggravating factor.

Finally, time does not help, as you age, your taste buds become dull.

What are the treatments for ageusia?

You can contact your dentist. If he does not detect any obvious dysfunction, he will refer you to your doctor.

Tests can be done to measure how well your papillae are functioning, using chemicals, electricity or by taking a biopsy.

Depending on the results, your doctor will know if it is a problem of perception by the papillae, or of transmission to the brain. He will then prescribe the appropriate treatment.