Hyposmia
When people have upper respiratory infections, one of the symptoms is hyposmia, or a reduced ability to smell. When you’re sick, your nose becomes congested with excess mucus and fluid, making it harder for you to smell and hindering your cilia’s ability to move freely.
The less healthy your cilia are, the slower they can move. This can result in one of two things: either the cilia become damaged and may not be able to function at all anymore, or they simply don’t move as well as they used to and may stop working altogether.
Diagnosing a problem with the cilia in your nose is difficult, but it’s possible. First, your doctor will look at your nose and ask questions about how well you can smell. Then, if they suspect something is wrong with your cilia, they may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat doctor for further diagnosis and treatment options.
