Effect of Nasal Steroid in the Treatment of Anosmia Due to COVID-19 Disease
Effect of Nasal Steroid in the Treatment of Anosmia Due to COVID-19 Disease
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.
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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