行動療法により良好な経過をたどった高齢者味覚障害の１例

elderly people

北海道歯学会

北海道歯学雑誌

In recent years the number of elderly people with taste disorders has been increasing. If the disorder is idiopathic and not alleviated by zinc replacement therapy, it is difficult to resolve. Here, we report on an elderly patient with a taste disorder, that was unresolved after several drug therapies. After behavioral therapy her taste sensation improved. A 75-year-old woman was referred to our department 4-months after the sudden onset of a taste disorder and tongue pain. She had been treated at an otorhinolaryngology clinic as an outpatient for 3 months but without improvement. She was then referred to our department. Initially, oral candidiasis was suspected and antifungal drugs were administered which reduced her tongue pain but did not improve her sense of taste. Next, administration of ethyl loflazepate, zinc replacement therapy, and two kinds of traditional Japanese herbal medicines were attempted, but no change in her taste disorder was observed. After watching an emotional documentary about a visually impaired patient, she started to practice living positively without obsessing over her taste abnormality. By continuing this type of behavioral therapy, 2 years after presenting to our department, her taste disorder completely resolved.