Steroid Nasal Irrigation for Flavor Evaluation and Detection Study

Steroid Nasal Irrigation for Flavor Evaluation and Detection (SNIFFED) Study

The purpose of this research study is to examine the efficacy of a 12-week smell training intervention for participants with olfactory dysfunction following an infection of the upper respiratory tract.

Olfactory dysfunction affects up to fifteen percent of the general population and can cause significant psychosocial distress including decreased appetite, reduced self-hygiene, and mood disturbances.

This study aims to study the efficacy of smell training for patients with olfactory dysfunction following a viral upper respiratory tract infection. Eligible participants will complete a 30-day course of budesonide nasal saline irrigation. Participants who do not show improvement in their olfaction based on composite smell and taste tests will be eligible to receive a baseline resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) and complete a 12-week smell training intervention program. Smell training involves participants smelling 4 odors (phenyl ethyl alcohol, eucalyptus, lemon, and eugenol) twice a day for 12 weeks. Following completion of smell training, participants will undergo repeat smell and taste tests as well as rs-fMRI to ascertain the efficacy of smell training.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18 and 70
• Anosmia or hyposmia (UPSIT <34 (male), UPSIT <34 (female); Sniffin' Sticks threshold below 5.5)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to understand English
• Current smoker or history of smoking within the past 6 months
• Current nasal polyps
• Exposure to head and or/neck radiation
• Exposure to chemotherapy