Interdisciplinary diagnosis and therapy of anterograde hyposmia after previousSARS Cov-2 infection

Introduction Olfactory dysfunction is a commonly described symptom in the setting of SARS-Cov-2 virus infection. The prevalence is reported to be 40-60%. Spontaneous remission often occurs during the course, but many patients suffer from longer-term olfactory impairment. This study tests possible improvement of long-term impairment with intra-nasal reflex therapy (INRT).

Methods Patients with > 6 weeks of persistent olfactory dysfunction after symptomatic covid-19 infection were included in the 28-day intervention study. INRT applications were performed on 6 dates over 14 days. Intranasal stimulation was performed endonasally bilaterally at 3 different sites. An ENT assessment was performed at the start and end points of the study. Quality of life was assessed bilaterally using SF36.

An objective olfactory test (SniffinSticks) was performed trilaterally.

Results A total of 15 patients, 9 women and 6 men (22-67 years) with disease onset between 03/2020 and 03/2021 were included.

None of the study participants showed anatomical abnormalities, and the interventions (INRT) were well tolerated. Subjectively, there was a small to significant decrease in hyposmia in most patients in both groups, and objectively, some patients also showed improvement in their findings.

Discussion The results suggest a promising approach as a complementary therapeutic option for hyposmia post covid-. To increase validity, an increase in the number of cases and the establishment of a control group is planned.

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Conflict of Interest

The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.

Publication History

Article published online:
24 May 2022