A patient with iron deficiency may experience a change in smell.
Changes in smell associated with iron deficiency:
(1) reduction in smell (hyposmia)
(2) olfactory cravings (desiderosmia), with compulsion to smell certain substances
Clinical features:
(1) normal smell by history
(2) acquired change in smell
(3) change in smell occurs during a period of iron deficiency
(4) smell returns to normal with iron replacement
Olfactory cravings:
(1) may be underreported by pregnant females
(2) may correlate with pica associated with iron deficiency
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Specialty: Otolaryngology