Corticosteroids could be an effective treatment for loss of smell (anosmia) due to Covid-19.
- Covid-19 causes some patients to lose their sense of smell.
- This very disabling symptom is generally temporary, but it can persist in approximately 10% of patients for more than 6 months.
- French scientists have just demonstrated the effectiveness of corticosteroids in restoring olfactory abilities following the contraction of Covid-19.
French scientists have just demonstrated the effectiveness of corticosteroids in restoring olfactory abilities following the contraction of Covid-19. These resultspublished on February 27 in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunitymark an important advance in the understanding and treatment of anosmia.
Covid-19 causes some patients to lose their sense of smell. This very disabling symptom is generally temporary, but it can persist in approximately 10% of patients for more than 6 months.
Covid-19: dexamethasone improves recovery of olfactory abilities
Work carried out by a team of researchers from INRAE and EnvA showed some time ago that the olfactory mucosa affected by SARS-CoV-2 was invaded by immune cells, thus causing its destruction and inflammation. prolonged. Building on these discoveries, the same scientists this time evaluated the effectiveness of corticosteroids known for their anti-inflammatory properties in the recovery of smell.
The results of their research are twofold: they first confirm the existence of a direct link between the loss of smell induced by the virus and the reduction in the populations of olfactory neurons in the nasal mucosa; they also show that early treatment with dexamethasone (a commonly used corticosteroid) improves the recovery of olfactory abilities in animals.
“This recovery of olfactory abilities is associated with a reduction in the presence of immune cells in the mucosa and a better regeneration of the population of olfactory neurons,” explain the researchers in a press release. “These results suggest that corticosteroid treatments currently used with little beneficial effect in prolonged anosmia could be used effectively if they were prescribed promptly when symptoms of loss of smell appear. they conclude.
What are the symptoms of Covid-19?
In addition to anosmia, Covid-19 can also cause fever and cough. The infection sometimes also leads to viral lung damage and causes respiratory difficulty (dyspnea). Other manifestations may accompany or replace these symptoms in a less systematic way: muscle pain (myalgia), headache (headache), sore throat, nasal congestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
“The sudden onset of a loss of taste (ageusia) is also one of the most discriminating signs for suspecting Covid-19”adds Inserm. “Dermatologically, some people develop erythema (redness) or a rash, and more rarely frostbite, particularly on the toes”, indicates the research center.
