Study of Different Local Treatments of Post COVID-۱۹ Smell Dysfunction

Introduction:This study was designed to differentiate between the impact of the topical nasal spray of corticosteroids, antihistamines, a combination of them, and normal ۰.۲% saline in treating patients with post-coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) smell dysfunction.Materials and Methods:Patients with hyposmia or anosmia (n = ۲۴۰), who recently recovered from COVID-۱۹, were enrolled in this trial and were randomly assigned to four parallel groups. Group I (G۱) received a combination of topical corticosteroid and antihistamine nasal spray (n = ۶۰). Group II (G۲) received topical corticosteroid nasal spray (n = ۶۰). Group III (G۳) received antihistamine nasal spray (n = ۶۰). Group IV (G۴) received ۰.۲% normal nasal saline nasal spray (n = ۶۰). The treatments were used in all groups for ۳ weeks. The sense of smell was assessed using the butanol threshold and discrimination tests. The smell tests were evaluated weekly for ۳ weeks.Results:The mean age of the patients was ۵۱.۹ ± ۷.۱ years; moreover, ۸۳.۸% and ۱۶.۳% were male and female, respectively. The results of the smell tests in the first week significantly improved with those in the third week (P< ۰.۰۰۱). The greatest degree of improvement was found in the first group, followed by the second, third, and fourth groups.Conclusions:The results suggest the ability of combination therapy of corticosteroid and antihistamine nasal spray to manage post-COVID-۱۹ hyposmia or anosmia; however, this combination therapy was not superior to corticosteroid nasal spray. Trial registration ID: UMIN۰۰۰۰۴۳۵۳۷

کلیدواژه ها:

Antihistamines ، Butanol threshold test ، Corticosteroids ، Discrimination test ، Smell dysfunction ، Post COVID-۱۹