Handling for Phantosmia, the Ghost Smell

The sudden aromas, from the scent of the flower to the scent, are often associated with occult phenomena. Believers call it the smell of ghosts (phantom smells). In fact, medically, these conditions can be explained in a reasonable way and far from being mystical. The medical world calls it phantosmia.

This condition occurs when a person experiences a hallucination of the sense of smell. As a result, he often sniffed out a scent that the source did not exist at the time.

In general, phantosmia is associated with a nasal problem such as sinusitis, or a condition of the nervous system or brain ― including migraine, stroke, or schizophrenia. Even so, medical experts have not been able to find the exact cause of this condition.

Health problems behind phantosmia

Phantosmia is relatively uncommon, and in some cases, the sufferer can recover without having to undergo intensive treatment. However, phantosmia can also be an early sign of chronic diseases related to the nose and brain.

Indeed, a person may feel the smell of ghosts for various reasons. This can also be related to problems with the nose or brain.

Launching Medical News Today, nasal problems that can be the most common cause related to olfactory problems such as phantosmia cases, including:

Nasal polyps

Tumor

Chronic sinus infection

Allergic fever or rhinitis

Non-allergic rhinitis

On the other hand, problems with the brain that can also be a cause of phantosmia are:

Epilepsy or seizures

Head trauma

Migraine with aura

Parkinson's disease

Schizophrenia

Depression

Stroke

Certain medicines

Overcoming phantosmia the smell of ghosts

Treatment of phantosmia is varied. This depends on the conditions that occur to people who experience it.

The first way that can be done in terms of managing phantosmia symptoms is to use a salt solution to rinse the nasal passages. This action can help remove anything that is flashed in the nasal passages and relieve symptoms that may be the cause of phantosmia, the smell of ghosts.

If it doesn't work, people with phantosmia can do imaging tests, including CT scans, MRI scans, and EEG scans to find out the possible causes of the current condition; whether it is a problem in the nasal cavity, brain, or nervous system.

After finding the cause of phantosmia, the patient can control his condition with the following drugs:

Anesthetic drugs to kill nerve cells

Medications to narrow blood vessels in the nose

Steroid creams or sprays

The above medicines can only be obtained after phantosmia sufferers have consulted directly with the doctor.

If with phantosmia symptom medications still occurs, the medical person may recommend surgery. This decision is usually taken when patients with phantosmia and medical parties already know how far the severity of the disease is, and what risks might occur if the situation is not followed up.

Remember that most of the things you experience can be explained medically. So, if you feel that you often feel mystical phenomena such as ghostly smell or phantosmia, there's no harm in consulting a doctor. You don't want to be really haunted by these conditions, right?