RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Bilateral loss of taste from a unilateral thalamic infarct
JF Practical Neurology
JO Pract Neurol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP practneurol-2021-003054
DO 10.1136/practneurol-2021-003054
A1 Fionn Mag Uidhir
A1 Aravinth Sivagnanaratnam
YR 2021
UL http://pn.bmj.com/content/early/2021/08/24/practneurol-2021-003054.abstract
AB Loss of sense of taste (hypogeusia) involving a part of the tongue can follow acute stroke. We describe a woman with a small right thalamic acute infarct causing bilateral (mainly left-sided) hypogeusia. Her problem remains sufficiently severe to cause distress and nutritional deficit. The anatomical distribution of her problem—cheiro-oral syndrome with concurrent hypogeusia—suggested involvement of adjacent relevant thalamic fibres. We address key considerations in examining taste in research and in practice and discuss issues to address in people with hypogeusia, including swallow deficits, psychological elements of the poststroke condition and nutrition. Dietetic management should include optimising taste stimuli and nutritional support. Introducing more detailed taste assessments into standard practice would likely improve stroke unit care.