Two cases of dissociated taste disturbance

Abstract

Inability to recognize one or two taste qualities of the four primary tastes is termed dissociated taste disturbance. We report two cases of dissociated taste disturbance. A 46-year-old woman complained of a sweet taste disorder after tonsillectomy. A 76-year-old woman complained of a sweet taste disorder after herpes zoster infection of the mandibular nerve tract. The causes of this rare complication are speculated to be (1) direct or indirect damage to nerves, (2) lack of dietary zinc, and (3) habitual drug intake.