Steroid Nasal Irrigation for Flavor Evaluation and Detection Study

Olfactory dysfunction affects up to fifteen percent of the general population and can cause
significant psychosocial distress including decreased appetite, reduced self-hygiene, and
mood disturbances.

This study aims to study the efficacy of smell training for patients with olfactory
dysfunction following a viral upper respiratory tract infection. Eligible participants will
complete a 30-day course of budesonide nasal saline irrigation. Participants who do not show
improvement in their olfaction based on composite smell and taste tests will be eligible to
receive a baseline resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) and complete a 12-week smell training
intervention program. Smell training involves participants smelling 4 odors (phenyl ethyl
alcohol, eucalyptus, lemon, and eugenol) twice a day for 12 weeks. Following completion of
smell training, participants will undergo repeat smell and taste tests as well as rs-fMRI to
ascertain the efficacy of smell training.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Age between 18 and 65

- Anosmia or hyposmia (UPSIT <34 (male), UPSIT <34 (female); Sniffin' Sticks threshold
below 5.5)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Inability to understand English

- Current smoker or history of smoking within the past 6 months

- Current nasal polyps

- Exposure to head and or/neck radiation

- Exposure to chemotherapy