Ageusia Causes, Treatments & More

By adr.ian

Reviewed: dr. stavarache

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. Bhandare, Nikhil N, et al. 'Diabetic Tongue - Could It Be a Diagnostic Criterion?' Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, July 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4209693/#:~:text=Diabetes mellitus (DM)
• 2. McConnell RJ;Menendez CE;Smith FR;Henkin RI;Rivlin RS; 'Defects of Taste and Smell in Patients with Hypothyroidism.'The American Journal of Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1163545/
• 3. 'Tongue Problems.' Tongue Problems | Michigan Medicine, www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/sig258564.
• 4. Ask the Doctor: 'Is My Blood Pressure Medicine Changing My Ability to Taste?' Harvard Health, 24 Sept. 2019, www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter/article/ask/the/doctor/is/my/blood/pressure/medicine/changing/my/ability/to/taste
• 5. 'Taste Disorders.' National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 14 Dec. 2020, www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taste-disorders

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Ageusia can affect people of all ages. It's a condition that affects the tongue's ability to taste anything. Whether it's sweet, bitter, salty or tangy, anyone with the condition would not just have reduced taste, which is known as hypogeusia. They would have a complete inability to taste anything.

Many common conditions, such as the common cold, can affect someone's ability to taste, as can certain medications and nutritional deficiencies. Some individuals are born with the condition, while others may feel they have issues with their sense of taste when it's their sense of smell that is affected.

The Common Cold

The common cold is caused by viruses and can make people feel terrible. Individuals can experience a wide variety of symptoms, including a sore throat, runny nose, headaches, coughs, sneezing, muscle aches, raised temperatures and loss of smell or taste or both. Children and adults can have the same symptoms, but children's symptoms may last longer.

The common cold can sometimes cause ageusia, a total lack of taste. Still, individuals are more likely to experience a reduced ability to taste, resulting in normally tasty foods coming across as bland and tasteless.