Acupuncture Therapy for COVID-Related Olfactory Loss

Purpose

This study is looking at the role of acupuncture as a treatment for olfactory dysfunction in patients who tested positive for COVID-19.

Conditions

  • Olfactory Dysfunction
  • COVID-19

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • 18 years or older. - Patients with post-viral olfactory dysfunction > 4 weeks. - History of positive COVID-19 PCR.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Less than 18 years of age. - Active sinus infection. - New diagnosis of untreated CRS. - Prior diagnosis of dementia or Parkinson's disease. - Prior head trauma or neurosurgical procedure resulting in olfactory loss. - Patients who do not speak or read English. - Patients unable to understand and sign the study consent.

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Acupuncture Therapy Group 		Subjects will undergo ten sessions of acupuncture therapy with a licensed acupuncturist in addition to the standard of care.
  • Device: Acupuncture Therapy
    Consists of two treatments per week for five weeks
  • Drug: Budesonide
    Twice daily nasal rinses with steroid medication (budesonide)
  • Other: Olfactory Training
    involves smelling 4 different essential oils (e.g. rose, lemon, clove, and eucalyptus) twice a day for 20 seconds each (after the nasal rinse)
Active Comparator
Standard of Care 		Subjects will be treated with two times daily budesonide rinses and olfactory (sense of smell) training. This is considered the current standard of care in the treatment of olfactory dysfunction.
  • Drug: Budesonide
    Twice daily nasal rinses with steroid medication (budesonide)
  • Other: Olfactory Training
    involves smelling 4 different essential oils (e.g. rose, lemon, clove, and eucalyptus) twice a day for 20 seconds each (after the nasal rinse)

Recruiting Locations

More Details

NCT ID
NCT04952389
Status
Completed
Sponsor
Mayo Clinic