Triggers for Post-Viral Parosmia

Background: Many people lose their sense of smell after they have had a cold, flu or sinus infection. Recovery (if at all) generally starts with a "parosmia" phase which means every-day smells become distorted and over-poweringly objectionable, and this can lead to malnutrition and depression. We do not know much about how or why parosmia happens, but there are key foods common to those who suffer from parosmia which seem to trigger the distortion.

Parosmia and COVID-19 Loss of smell has recently been recognised as an official symptom of COVID-19, and we are starting to get reports of people who have recently had COVID-19 developing parosmia. The triggers seem to be similar to those of the common cold, flu or virus infections, but the journey between loss of smell and parosmia is different.

Hypotheses

1. Triggers of distortion will be the same for all parosmics. 2. There may be additional trigger foods in different cultures.

Questions

1. What are the trigger foods and beverages for parosmia? 2. Are there regional/cultural variations? 3. Does Covid-19 parosmia differ from "standard" post-viral parosmia?

The overall aim of the project is to understand the mechanisms involved in parosmia. The approach is to identify foods and everyday aromas associated with parosmia and to determine whether they are the same across different continents/cultures/ethnic backgrounds, and whether Covid-19 parosmia is any different to non-Covid-19 parosmia. The questionnaire will ask about Covid-19 status, ethnic background, smell loss and parosmia, and the changes that occurred between smell loss and parosmia. The participants will then answer questions on up to 15 everyday smells, some of which our preliminary evidence shows are common triggers, and others which are not. The questionnaire will be globally distributed, for example through current collaborations in the UK, US, Germany, Iran, China, Japan and Brazil. It will be completed by participants who are currently experiencing parosmia.

All participants will be asked to record any foods that they find distorted and provide a list of aromas which returned undistorted.

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Key information

Conditions

Parosmia Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Olfaction Disorders Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Sensation Disorders Signs and Symptoms Smell Disorder

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Reading

Reading, RG6 6AP, United Kingdom

About this study

The questionnaire will be sent out to those reporting early stages of parosmia as a result of post-viral infection, including post-COVID-19 infection. The questionnaire will record demographic data and ask about COVID-19 status, COVID-19 diagnosis and results of COVID-19 tests. It will ask about loss of smell, taste and chemesthesis (irritation from the heat of spices) and it will ask about the sequence of events leading to parosmia. Up to 15 everyday items will be rated for aroma description, intensity and valence. Participants will be asked to list other distorted foods, and also smells that returned undistorted. The questionnaire will be fully anonymous (unlinked anonymous) and voluntary. The questionnaire will be designed, distributed and data collected using the secure platform provided by Compusense.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Individuals should be currently experiencing parosmia

Exclusion criteria

Individuals below 18 years old will be excluded from the study

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Questionnaire

Time frame: 20 minutes

Outcomes from the questionnaire will be:

List of major trigger foods for anosmia.

Typical descriptions for smell distortions.

Severity of parosmia.

Patterns of anosmia/parosmia symptoms in post-viral infections including Covid-19.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Reading

Other

Collaborators

AbScent
University College London Hospitals
University of London

Registry information

Official study title

Triggers for Post-Viral Parosmia After COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Infections

Acronym: ParosmiaQ

Important dates

Study start: 2020
Primary completion: 2021
Study completion: 2023
First posted: May 3, 2021
Registry last updated: May 9, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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