Evaluation and management of chemosensory, trigeminal, and salivary dysfunctions in patients with post coronavirus disease

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BACKGROUND & AIMS: While the management of olfactory disorders among patients with post Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is well elucidated, treatment of taste dysfunction, oral burning, and oral dryness is less extensively studied among post-COVID-19 patients. This prospective study aimed (i) to assess the prevalence of chemosensory, trigeminal, and salivary dysfunctions in patients at two different time points following COVID-19 infection, and (ii) to evaluate the recovery process over time. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 54 Early-post-COVID-19 (3-11 months since COVID-19), 46 Late-post-COVID-19 (≥12 months since COVID-19) and 76 Non-COVID-19 controls were recruited. Participants' olfactory, gustatory, trigeminal, and salivary status were investigated. Depending on the test outcomes, tailored treatments were administered, and patients were monitored every 3-6 months. RESULTS: The findings indicated that none of these dysfunctions improved on their own over time. Patients in both post-COVID-19 groups demonstrated significantly reduced smell, trigeminal and salivary functions compared to the control group. Taste impairment was significantly more severe in Late-post-COVID-19 patients compared to Early-post-COVID-19 patients. Follow-up evaluations revealed significant improvement in both smell and taste functions at each follow-up visit across both patient groups. CONCLUSION: Chemosensory, trigeminal, and salivary disorders in post-COVID-19 patients may not resolve with time alone, underscoring the need for tailored treatments to achieve significant improvements.