How relevant is the impairment of smell for the quality of life in allergic rhinitis?

In the present review, the authors try to evaluate how relevant smell impairment is in patients suffering from allergic rhinitis and how it affects their quality of life. Smell dysfunction has a significant impact on the quality of life as it can lead to a wrong choice of food and intake, a reduction in appetite and eventually to weight loss, malnutrition, immunity reduction and worsening of medical illness. Patients with smell impairment are reported to use larger quantities of sugar and salt to highlight flavours, thus worsening their general health condition and increasing the risk of developing diabetes and hypertension.