AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Because the ability to smell affects taste, food often does not taste right to people with a cold. Smell receptors can be temporarily damaged by the influenza (flu) virus. Some people cannot smell or taste for several days or even weeks after a bout of the flu, and, rarely, loss of smell or taste becomes permanent.

Detailed explanation-2: -Illness or Infection Anything that irritates and inflames the inner lining of your nose and makes it feel stuffy, runny, itchy, or drippy can affect your senses of smell and taste. This includes the common cold, sinus infections, allergies, sneezing, congestion, the flu, and COVID-19.

Detailed explanation-3: -Among the causes of taste problems are: Upper respiratory and middle ear infections. Radiation therapy for cancers of the head and neck. Exposure to certain chemicals, such as insecticides and some medications, including some common antibiotics and antihistamines.

Detailed explanation-4: -It’s uncommon to lose your ability to taste. Most often, a loss of smell makes foods taste bland. The medical term for a complete inability to taste is ageusia (uh-gyou-zee-uh). More people have hypogeusia, which means foods and drinks don’t taste as flavorful as they should.

Detailed explanation-5: -Loss of smell can be partial (hyposmia) or complete (anosmia), and may be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause.