Understanding the 10 Key Symptoms of Sinusitis

4. Reduced Taste and Smell

A sinus infection affects an individual's sense of smell and taste. Under normal conditions, air movement in the sinuses helps volatile molecules settle in and provides a signal to the brain that dictates a taste or scent. This lack of air movement and inflammation in the sinuses means the sense of taste is often dulled, though the five basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami) can still be perceived.