What iatrogenic factor is known to alter taste?

Radiation therapy is well-documented as an iatrogenic factor that can significantly alter taste perception in patients. This alteration occurs due to the impact of radiation on the oral cavity, particularly affecting the salivary glands, taste buds, and surrounding mucosal tissues. The damage to taste buds can lead to taste distortion, often described as a metallic or bitter flavor, or even the complete loss of taste (ageusia).

Patients undergoing radiation therapy, especially for head and neck cancers, frequently report changes in their ability to taste food and beverages, which can lead to decreased appetite and changes in dietary intake. The specifics of how radiation affects the cells involved in taste perception are important for healthcare professionals to understand when caring for patients, as these taste alterations can influence nutritional status and overall quality of life.

Other factors, such as surgery complications and medication side effects, might also impact taste but are less commonly associated with widespread alterations in taste perception compared to the specific effects of radiation therapy on the oral and taste structures. Physical therapy, on the other hand, is generally unrelated to sensory changes like taste.