What is the treatment for loss of smell due to sinusitis?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am male, 43 years old, and I was born with a cleft palate, but it is fine now, and I have sinusitis and loss of smell sensation. I took steroids, Prednisone, nearly two months back and got my smell back, but suddenly four days ago now the smell is gone again. Just to let you know, I have moderate sleep apnea and am using CPAP. I also have some allergies in the nose. I also use a nasal spray, just started like three days ago, after stopping for three months. My question is how can I get my smell back? Shall I continue the Avamys Nasal Drops?

Please advise,

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

1. Your recurrent problem of not being able to smell is due to sinusitis and allergy. Once that gets treated, smell will come back. But in chronic sinusitis, the smell may or may not come back due to prolonged disease.

2. Avamys (Fluticasone furoate) should be helpful. These steroid sprays reduce inflammation inside our sinuses and nose. For steroid sprays to act in our nose, we should have wide sinus openings. To see if you have space in your nose for sprays to act you will have to get a plain CT scan of the nose and paranasal sinuses done. If your nose is very crowded and infected, then you will have to undergo endoscopic sinus surgery which will remove active disease and inflammation. Following surgery, you will have to continue sprays for a few months to avoid recurrence and it will make your nasal mucosa healthy and you will be able to smell.

Oral steroids will relieve your symptoms temporarily, but in case of sinusitis we need to treat the disease for a long time.

thank you.