Can Topical Nasal Steroid Prevent the Loss of Smell in Covid-19?

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of nasal steroid use on the loss of smell in patients diagnosed with Covid-19.Material and Method: 211 patients diagnosed with Covid-19 with positive PCR tests between April 2020 and December 2020 and followed up and treated in the Elazig City Hospital Pandemic Clinic were included in this cross-sectional study. The demographic data, comorbidities and drug use histories of the patients were interviewed face-to-face and recorded.Findings: The average age of the patients was 53.55 ± 17.81 (129 men, 82 women). Regarding the age, gender and comorbidities of the patients, there was no difference between the groups with and without loss of smell in terms of average age and gender. Anosmia developed in 50 patients (23.5%) and hyposmia developed in 84 patients (40%). No decrease or loss of sense of smell was observed in 77 patients. 26 of these patients were using nasal steroids at the time of diagnosis, and none of them had a decrease or loss in sense of smell.Results: With the results of the study, it has presented for the first time to the literature that the use of nasal steroids can prevent the loss of smell, which is one of the common neurological symptoms in Covid-19. The results of our study suggest that the nasal steroid, which plays an immunomodulatory role, can be a shield against loss of smell by creating a local anti-inflammatory effect in the nasal mucosa and around the olfactory nerve.

Can the Nasal Cavity Help Tackle COVID-19?

“…Another study presented, for the first time to the scientific community, the preventive capacity of nasal steroids regarding the loss of smell. This effect was attributed to the immunomodulatory role of nasal steroids and their local anti-inflammatory effect around the olfactory nerve [155]. Furthermore, Meneses et al [156] demonstrated the effectiveness of the intranasal route for the control of peripheral-infection-induced neuroinflammation.…”