Nose: olfactory training: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Nose: olfactory training

Sample item

A 35-year-old has had reduced smell for five months after a viral upper respiratory infection, with normal nasal endoscopy and CT. What is the best evidence-based advice?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Structured olfactory training with repeated exposure to strong odours, and reassurance

Post-viral olfactory loss may recover over months, and olfactory training twice daily with four odours such as rose, lemon, clove and eucalyptus improves function. Antibiotics and turbinate surgery have no role when the nose is healthy.

Option by option

  • A. Structured olfactory training with repeated exposure to strong odours, and reassurance (correct)

    Correct. Training promotes regeneration of the olfactory neuroepithelium.

  • B. Long-term oral antibiotics

    Antibiotics do not help when there is no sinus infection.

  • C. No treatment is possible

    Recovery is possible and training helps.

  • D. Surgical removal of the turbinates

    Turbinate surgery is unrelated to sensorineural olfactory loss.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Structured olfactory training with repeated exposure to strong odours, and reassurance. Post-viral olfactory loss may recover over months, and olfactory training twice daily with four odours such as rose, lemon, clove and eucalyptus improves function.

Why is "Long-term oral antibiotics" not the answer?

Antibiotics do not help when there is no sinus infection.

Why is "No treatment is possible" not the answer?

Recovery is possible and training helps.

Why is "Surgical removal of the turbinates" not the answer?

Turbinate surgery is unrelated to sensorineural olfactory loss.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nose: olfactory training in ENT. Antibiotics and turbinate surgery have no role when the nose is healthy.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Nose: olfactory training?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.