The loss of the sense of smell is known as Anosmia.
This condition can be temporary or may be permanent and is usually due to an injury to the head or brain, exposure to chemicals, or an illness.
Anosmia has the potential to become fatal due to the fact that a person with the condition will not be able to smell and could consume food that is spoiled or may not be able to identify the smell of smoke in a building that is on fire.
It has been estimated that five million adults in the United States suffer with disorders involving smell and taste.
There are a large number of prescription medications, and more than two hundred medical conditions that have been linked to changes and loss of olfactory senses.
Popular over the counter zinc nasal cold sprays and gels have been directly attributed to the condition referred to as Anosmia.
Zinc solutions that are applied directly to the nose have been found to destroy the ability to smell in people and animals; a fact that has been known for a number of years.
Because of this issue, the use of intranasal zinc compounds was not used in humans.
That being said, because zinc is considered a natural substance, they are now back on the market under the FDA's homeopathic provision.
This means the products are not required to get approval by the FDA to be placed on the market for human use.
It should then come as no surprise that studies are now turning up that find these over the counter zinc nasal cold sprays and gels are not only not effective in preventing and treating colds, they also pose serious side effects.
Two placebo controlled trials that investigated the use of intranasal zinc solutions found that they may possibly shorten the length of cold symptoms, two other placebo controlled studies found the solutions provided no benefits whatsoever.
On top of the condition of Anosmia, there are other versions of the disorder that causes a loss of smell.
If an individual has a reduction in the ability to distinguish odors and to smell it is known as Hyposmia.
If an individual has an increased sensitivity to smells, or an increased sense of smell that is extremely heightened, it is known as Hypersomia.
When there is some type of distortion to the sense of smell, such as a person smelling things that are not what is there producing the smell, that is referred to as Parosmia.
If a person smells something that is not there at all, this condition is known as Phantosmia.
Typically these odors are reported as being unpleasant.
Hyperosmia is an abnormally increased sensitivity to odors or an abnormally increased sense of smell.
Parosmia involves a distortion of the sense of smell, the affected person reports smelling something other than the scent that is present.
Finally, if the sense of smell is just impaired, it is known as Dysosmia.
As previously mentioned, it has been known for years that the use of intranasal forms of zinc was not safe.
In the late 1930s, a solution of intranasal zinc sulfate was being used to prevent polio.
This practice was stopped because not only was it not successful, some of the patients treated lost their sense of smell.
Ever since this time, many researchers in the medical world have supported the link between zinc and potential damage to the nerves that causes a loss of smell.
Zinc has been categorized as a type of neurotoxin which acts specifically on neurons, or nerve cells.
This happens by ion channels interacting with membrane proteins.
If you or someone you know has used an over the counter zinc nasal spray and has been diagnosed with the condition of Anosmia or any other ill side effect, you should not hesitate to contact a personal injury attorney who specializes in the area of defective drugs as soon as possible.
These legal professionals are quite skilled in this area of the law and will be able to provide top notch care and dedication to your case.
Drug manufacturers owe the public at large a particular duty of care to provide products that are safe and do not cause undue harm.
Unfortunately, with the need to make as much money as possible in today's marketplace taking precedence over public safety, this duty is often breached.
When this duty is breached, it is important to take legal action to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
Even though these products fall outside the realm of FDA control, there is no excuse for putting a product on the market that knowingly causes harm to those who believe its claims and use it.
A personal injury attorney will review all of the details of your case and will determine the best possible way to proceed.
Since these cases can be somewhat complex and often center around many small details, it is not recommended that you attempt to file on your own without professional assistance.
Missing a filing deadline or requirement can cause your case to be dismissed or never admitted in the first place.
You should not risk being a victim twice; consulting with a personal injury attorney is your best course of action.
Compensation for these types of cases often include those for past, present, and future medical bills, loss of income, loss of quality of life, and pain and suffering.
In some cases, punitive damages may also be sought.
These types of damages are meant as nothing more than a punishment for the responsible party, in an effort to deter future similar acts form occurring.
Since most personal injury attorney work on a contingency basis, you do not have to worry about how to fund your claim in advance, and often pay nothing at all until the time your case settles.
Removing the worry of how to fund your claim in advance can provide a great deal of comfort during a time that is already stressful enough.