Definition of "parosmia"
parosmia
noun
countable and uncountable, plural parosmias
(pathology) A distorted sense of smell, often resulting in the apparent detection of non-existent smells which are mostly unpleasant.
Quotations
Parosmis, from παρα, "male [Latin: ‘badly; wrongly’]," and ὄζω, "oleo, olfacio;" analogously with paracusis and paropsis, and hence preferred to parosmia. The common term among nosologists is anosmia, but this only includes one species of the genus, namely, privation or destitution of smell; which, in fact, is the only one that has hitherto been introduced into nosological systems.
1817, John Mason Good, “Gen[us] III. Parosmis.”, in A Physiological System of Nosology; […], London: […] Bensley and Son, […], for E. Cox and Son, […], page 320
The smell, too, is often perverted—Parosmia. The author was formerly acquainted with a lady, who scented her snuff with the tincture of assafœtida.
1842, Robley Dunglison, “Of the Neuroses”, in The Practice of Medicine; or, A Treatise on Special Pathology and Therapeutics. […], volume II, Philadelphia, Pa.: Lea and Blanchard, book VI (Diseases of the Nervous System), page 280
Smell disturbances occur quite frequently after head injuries. They consist in unilateral or bilateral hypnosmia or anosmia which may be bound with spontaneous parosmias.
1949 July, F. C. Sumner, “[Part III.—Bibliography and Epitome.] Smell and Taste Disturbances after Head Injuries.”, in G. W. T. H. Fleming, editor, The Journal of Mental Science: The British Journal of Psychiatry, volume XCV, number 400, London: J[ohn] & A[ugustus] Churchill, page 767
Parosmia has been reported by a number of patients with head trauma. In some cases, parosmia is a sign of nerve regeneration and the return (at least partially) of the sense of smell. In other cases, parosmia can be severe, persistent, and intrusive.
1996, “Smell Disorders”, in M. Eric Gershwin, Gary A. Incaudo, editors, Diseases of the Sinuses: A Comprehensive Textbook of Diagnosis and Treatment, Totowa, N.J.: Humana Press, part III (Clinical Disease), page 438, column 1
Parosmias tend to decrease to a bearable level after approximately one year. However, recent work revealed that more than 50% of the parosmias are still present after two years. Over time, parosmia seems to lose its devastating effect on quality of life.
2005, B. N. Landis, T. Hummell, J.-S. Lacroix, “Basic and Clinical Aspects of Olfaction”, in J. D. Pickard, editor, Advances and Technical Standards in Neurosurgery, volume 30, Vienna: SpringerWienNewYork, page 88
In June 2021, a study found that of 1,299 people suffering with long-Covid, that 10.8 percent or 140 of them were suffering with change in their sense of smell. Also known as parosmia, change in your sense of smell can affect everyone differen[tly].
2022 January 15, Christopher Sharp, “Covid symptoms: Five foods that could trigger parosmia – reported symptom after infection”, in Gary Jones, editor, Daily Express, London: Express Newspapers, archived from the original on 2022-04-18