The study investigates Post-Viral Olfactory Dysfunction (PVOD), a condition where a viral infection (like COVID-19, flu, or colds) damages the nasal olfactory cells, causing a reduced or complete loss of smell (hyposmia or anosmia).This condition has a severe impact on quality of life, posing safety risks (inability to smell gas leaks, smoke, or spoiled food) and causing psychological distress (depression, anxiety, social isolation) and nutritional issues.While always a problem, the COVID-19 pan
Conditions
Interventions
Intervention 1: Control group: 20 people are the control group and receive olfactory training with a neutral odor (no essential oil). Intervention 2: Intervention group: 20 people are the classical th
Sponsors
Iran University of Medical Sciences
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Confirmed olfactory dysfunction by the Sniffin’s Sticks test olfactory dysfunction Age range: 18 to 50 years
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Severe nasal septum deviation Psychiatric disorders Pregnancy Sinusitis Nasal or brain tumors Alcohol consumption Nasal polyps Occupational exposure to unfavorable conditions (e.g., working in paint factories or with heavy metals) Congenital anosmia
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change in olfactory function scores (Threshold, Discrimination, and Identification; TDI score) measured by the Sniffin’s Sticks test from baseline to 16 weeks after intervention. Timepoint: Baseline (T0): Measurement is taken before the start of the intervention.Endpoint (T1): Measurement is taken once, immediately after the completion of the 16-week intervention period. Method of measurement: A total of 60 patients with post-viral olfactory dysfunction (confirmed by an olfactory test) will be selected and, after being informed about the study objectives and giving personal consent, will participate in the study. Patients will undergo the Sniffin’ Sticks olfactory test before and after olfactory training. This test includes: olfactory threshold, olfactory discrimination, and olfactory identification.Inclusion criteria: Olfactory dysfunction confirmed by the Sniffin’ Sticks test, post-viral olfactory dysfunction, and age between 18 and 50 years.Exclusion criteria: Severe nasal deviation, psychological disorders, pregnancy, sinusitis, tumor, alcohol consumption, nasal polyps, working in unfavorable conditions (e.g., in paint or heavy metal factories), congenital anosmia, or history of head trauma.In this study, patients are divided into three groups:Group 1: 20 participants serve as the control group and receive olfactory training with a solvent only (without any scent).Group 2: 20 participants form the classic treatment group and receive olfactory training for 16 weeks with four fixed essential oils. The training involves smelling each of the four oils (rose, lemon, eucalyptus, and thyme) twice daily, morning and evening, for 10 seconds each, with a 10-second interval between scents.Group 3: 20 participants form the modified treatment group and receive olfactory training for 16 weeks, with the difference that four different essential oils are provided each month. Other training conditions are the same as Group 2.Before and after the intervention, the Sniffin’ Sticks | — |
Countries
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Contacts
Public ContactRafieh Alizadeh
Iran University of Medical Sciences
Outcome results
None listed