Olfactory training with essential oils in patients with olfaction sequelae after COVID-19

ABSTRACT

ConditionAnosmia; parosmia

InterventionClassic olfactory training group (COT) 50 patients with post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction will undergo olfactory training with 4 essential oils (carnation, rose, eucalyptus and lemon). Modified olfactory training group (MOT) 50 patients with post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction will undergo olfactory training with 12 essential oils (carnation, rose, eucalyptus, lemon, tangerine, jasmine, thyme, mint, bergamot, tuberose, rosemary and lemon grass), with 4 oils used each month and repeated cyclically. Advanced olfactory training group (AOT) 50 patients with post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction will undergo olfactory training with 24 essential oils (carnation, rose, eucalyptus, lemon, tangerine, jasmine, thyme, mint, bergamot, tuberose, rosemary, lemon grass, citronella, vanilla, cedar, cinnamon, cardamom, tonka bean, sandal, black pepper, orange blossom, lavender, orange, vetiver), with 8 oils used each month and repeated in a cyclic manner. All groups will perform olfactory training twice a day for 15 seconds on each essence for 12 months. They will be reassessed at 4, 12, 24 and 52 weeks after starting the proposed treatment, and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) will be performed at each visit.;D10.627.675;G16.500.275.640

Primary outcome:The primary outcome assessed will be improvement in olfaction (periods 4, 12, 24 and 52 weeks after starting treatment). The evaluation of smell is based on the comparison of results from before and after the olfactory rehabilitation obtained from a single method of the two methods: olfactory identification results obtained from the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT); Subjective assessment of patients using a visual analogue scale for the following complaints loss of ability to smell; loss of ability to sense flavors; nasal symptoms in the last 14 days; how much the difficulty in smelling bothers; how much the difficulty in feeling flavors bothers.

CriteriaInclusion criteria Patients who complain of anosmia or hyposmia after SARS-CoV-2 infection less than 3 months after symptom onset; convalescing from her COVID-19 disease, with onset of disease symptoms for at least 4 weeks; Patients who underwent RT-PCR test at symptom onset, with detection of SARS-CoV-2; Patients who can give valid written informed consent; Patients motivated to participate in the study; Adult patients aged 18-60 years.

Exclusion criteria Patients who cannot give valid written informed consent; Patients with a previous history of more than one SARS-CoV-2 infection Patients with nasosinusal diseases such as chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal masses; History of previous traumatic brain injury with olfactory sequelae; History of olfaction disorder prior to SARS CoV-2 infection; Patients with any diagnosed neurological disease known to affect olfactory function; Patients unable to read Portuguese; Patients who are already using an oral glucocorticoid; Patients who have already started some form of therapy for the olfactory disorder caused by COVID-19; Known hypersensitivity to any item used in any of the proposed olfactory training;