What is the Difference Between Parosmia and Anosmia?

Parosmia and anosmia are both smell disorders, but they differ in the nature of the olfactory dysfunction:

• Parosmia [pahr-OZE-mee-ah] is a change in the normal perception of odors, such as when the smell of something familiar is distorted, or when something that normally smells pleasant now smells foul. It can be caused by various factors, including upper respiratory infections, head injury, sinus infection, certain toxins and drugs, seizures in the temporal lobe, brain tumors, COVID-19, and constant dry mouth.
• Anosmia [ah-NOSE-mee-ah] is the complete inability to detect odors. It can result from nasal congestion due to a cold, allergy, or sinus infection, nasal polyps, head injury, hormonal disturbances, dental problems, exposure to certain chemicals, and many other causes.

In summary, parosmia is characterized by a distorted sense of smell, while anosmia is the total loss of the sense of smell.

Comparative Table: Parosmia vs Anosmia

Here is a table comparing the differences between parosmia and anosmia:

Both parosmia and anosmia are types of smell disorders due to the loss of olfactory senses, but they differ in the degree of olfactory perception and the causes associated with them.