Anosmia Rehabilitation in Patients Post Coronavirus Disease (COVID 19)

Olfactory Retraining Therapy and Budesonide Nasal Rinse for Anosmia Treatment in Patients Post-CoVID 19. A Randomized Controlled Trial

The study will be a randomized controlled trial, involving patients with hyposmia/anosmia of onset immediately after an upper respiratory viral illness, assigned to three distinct study arms. Nasal irrigations will be prescribed to all three groups (BID). In addition, one arm will receive a paper hand-out about post-viral anosmia with instructions to smell common household items (current care) and act as a control group. The second group will receive an essential oil retraining kit, whereas the third group will receive the same olfactory training kit and a prescription to use budesonide with the nasal irrigations. Olfactory scores will be tested at the enrollment, 3 months and at 6 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults 18 years of age or older
• Hyposmia/anosmia of onset immediately after an upper respiratory viral illness confirmed on Snap n' Sniff threshold testing,
• Capable, in the opinion of the primary investigator, of providing informed consent to participate in the study. Participants are required to sign an informed consent form indicating they understand the purpose and nature of the study, and that they are willing to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

• active cigarette smoker
• chronic rhinosinusitis
• head trauma with loss of consciousness
• inability to read/understand English
• previous hyposmia/anosmia complaint
• pregnancy
• previous sinus
• skull base or brain surgery
• current participation in another clinical trial at the time of initial visit