On January 30, 2020, the WHO (World Health Organization) declared the new coronaviruspandemic as the sixth public health emergency of international concern. In February 2020,the virus was designated by the Coronavirus Study Group of the International Committee onVirus Taxonomy as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Many reports havedescribed the appearance of olfactory or gustatory dysfunction simultaneously with otherpre-established symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms such as loss of taste or smell may appear2 to 14 days after being infected with COVID-19. Worldwide, evidence regarding anosmia(loss of smell) and dysgeusia (change in taste) has been associated with COVID-19infection. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of low-intensity laser in treatingchanges in smell and taste after COVID-19 infection and map which changes obtained thebest results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is an intervention study whose sample willconsist of 30 individuals with loss of smell and taste for more than 6 months afterCOVID-19 infection, aged 18 years or older.
objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of low-intensity laser in resolving chemosensory
symptoms caused by COVID-19.
This is an intervention study. The sample will consist of 30 individuals who will be
allocated to the low-intensity laser treatment group.
The patients will come from research at the COVID-19 outpatient clinic at the Gafree
Guinle University Hospital - UNIRIO. Patients who agree to participate in the study will
be informed about the objective of the research and will sign an informed consent form.
Device: low-intensity laser treatment
The experimental group will be subjected to a total of up to 24 sessions (2x a week for
up to 12 weeks) of irradiation with red and infrared laser pulsed radiation, with 820mm
wavelength, 60w power and 6 energy cages, applied in both nostrils and in 10 points under
the tongue.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients who complained of loss of smell and taste more than 6 months after COVID-19
infection, aged 18 years or older, with proof of infection by PCR, will be included
in the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients with comorbidities prior to COVID-19 infection that could interfere with
the functions of smell and taste will be excluded from the study; patients with a
history of head and neck cancer, epileptic patients; mouth breathing patients; and
pregnant women.
university hospital Gafree Guinle
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Investigator: DEBORAH S SALES, PHD
Contact: +5521982161520
deborahsales.fono@gmail.com
DEBORAH S SALES, phd
+5521982161520
deborahsales.fono@gmail.com