A case report of olfactory dysfunction caused by zinc chloride solution

Abstract

Epipharyngeal Abrasive Therapy (EAT)is a treatment used for early cold, which is characterized by epipharyngeal inflammation, in which a cotton swab soaked in zinc chloride is used to scrape the epipharynx. Zinc chloride is known to exert anti-inflammatory effects, and is therefore used at some medical facilities. EAT rarely causes olfactory dysfunction, however, there are a few reports. Overseas, zinc gluconate is sold in the market and used for early colds, and there have been reports that it could cause olfactory dysfunction. Furthermore, zinc sulfide and zinc oxide have also been reported to cause olfactory dysfunction in animal experiments. We encountered a case of olfactory dysfunction that was thought to be caused by zinc chloride; we considered that the mechanism underlying the olfactory dysfunction caused by zinc chloride was the same as that underlying olfactory dysfunction caused by other zinc compounds, and report the case here with a review of the literature.