Background: Anosmia is a debilitating common symptom of COVID-19. The therapeutic effect of systemic steroid for the treatment of anosmia has been studied with various findings of its efficacy. However, the effect of local steroid was not assessed before. Objective: To estimate the efficacy of local steroid in the treatment of anosmia in COVID-19 patients.
Background: Anosmia is a debilitating common symptom of COVID-19. The therapeutic effect of
systemic steroid for the treatment of anosmia has been studied with various findings of its
efficacy. However, the effect of local steroid was not assessed before.
Objective: To estimate the efficacy of local steroid in the treatment of anosmia in COVID-19
patients.
Materials and Methods: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted at
Al-Ramadi Teaching Hospital and Tikrit Teaching Hospital during the period from 23th August
to 30th September. Proven cases by real-time polymerase chain reaction and presented with
anosmia alone or with ageusia were enrolled in the study. The patients divided into 4 groups
according to the treatment modalities. Group A (local steroid nasal drops), group B (local
normal saline nasal drops), group C (systemic and local steroid), and group D (systemic
steroid and local normal saline). Comparison between the groups concerning the fate and the
recovery time of the anosmia was analyzed.
Results and Conclusion: Depends on the finding of the studied patients.
Drug: Ophtamesone
local application intranasally as drops
Other Name: Normal Saline
Inclusion Criteria: Proven cases of COVID-19 infection by real-time polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) of the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs and presented with recent
onset of anosmia alone or with ageusia or other symptoms of the disease were enrolled in
the current study.
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Exclusion Criteria: Patients with pregnancy, children <18 year, psychological disturbances,
previous anosmia, severe sinonasal diseases, previous sinonasal surgery, refuse to
participate in the study, and those who lost to follow-up were excluded from the study.
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Raid Muhmid Al-Ani
Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq
Investigator: Raid M Al-Ani, FIBMS (ENT)
Contact: 07906145364
med.raed.alani2003@uoanbar.edu.iq
Raid M Al-Ani, FIBMS (ENT)
07906145364
med.raed.alani2003@uoanbar.edu.iq
Raid M Al-Ani, FIBMS (ENT), Principal Investigator
University Of Anbar