Nasal sponge steroid shows promise for long COVID smell loss
NCT ID NCT05970731
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether a steroid (beclomethasone) placed directly in the nose using a tiny sponge could help people who lost their sense of smell after COVID-19. Sixteen adults with smell loss lasting over 3 months received either the steroid or a placebo sponge twice, two weeks apart. The main goal was to see if the treatment led to a meaningful improvement on a smell test.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- beclomethasone (a steroid) delivered via a nasal sponge
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a treatment for smell loss after COVID-19.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small early-phase trial with only 16 people, so results may not apply widely. The treatment is also short-term and may not restore smell for everyone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States