Osmophobia and Odour-triggered Headaches – Review of the Literature and Main Research Centres

• DOI: 10.17925/enr.2017.12.01.24
• Publication Date: 2017-05-18T06:55:14Z
• Authors: Raimundo Pereira ...; ; Adriana Almeida S...
• Keywords: Primary headache

There is an important relationship between odours and primary headaches. Patients may present osmophobia during headaches trigger headache attacks. This review aimed to describe the studies on osmophobia, odour-triggered headache, main researchers their research centres. Publications were searched in 193 sovereign countries 48 dependent territories all continents. We consulted PubMed database used descriptors: “osmophobia [name of country or territory]”; “odours territory]” “smell territory]”. A total 254 articles found, but only 31 considered relevant composed this review. Of articles, 90.3% cross-sectional studies, 6.5% case reports 3.2% systematic reviews. All performed three continents: Europe (45.2%), America (32.2%) Asia (22.6%). For purpose study, North South have been classed as one continent. No was developed Africa Australia. More than 50.0% conducted Italy Brazil. Only five authors published 38.7% studies. Osmophobia attacks investigated 67.7% 19.3%. Studies and/or carried out several countries. They useful differentiating migraine tension-type headache. could improve accuracy diagnosis compared current criteria.