Permanent Taste and Smell Disorders Induced by Clarithromycin: A Case Report

Abstract

Clarithromycin belongs to a group of medications called macrolide antibiotics. Other antibiotics in this group include erythromycin, troleandomycin, roxithromycin, spiramycin and azithromycin. The most common use of antibiotics in this group are mild to moderate infections of skin, soft-tissues, mouth and respiratory tract, caused by gram-positive bacteria. This group of antibiotics are known to have side effects such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, hives, and other forms of skin rashes, drug-induced fever and anorexia when administered perorally. In this article a case who has permanent loss of smell and taste after the clarithromycin therapy has presented. Drugs that often cause taste and smell dysfunction and mechanisms of action are discussed accompanied by literature.

Keywords

• Clarithromycin
• anosmia
• taste disorders