THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES AND PERSPECTIVES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF POST-COVID-19 ANOSMIA: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Persistent olfactory loss following COVID-19 infection is one of the most common sequelae of the pandemic, impairing sensory perception, food safety, social interaction, and patients' quality of life. Given the high prevalence of this condition and the absence of a well-established therapeutic protocol, several strategies have been investigated to promote olfactory recovery. This study aimed to analyze the most recent scientific evidence on advances and future perspectives in the management of post-viral anosmia associated with SARS-CoV-2. This is a literature review conducted using the PubMed and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases, employing the descriptors "COVID-19," "Anosmia," and "Treatment," combined with the Boolean operator AND. Studies published between 2021 and 2026, available in full text and related to the proposed topic, were included. The evidence showed that olfactory training remains the intervention supported by the strongest scientific evidence, whereas adjunctive therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma, vitamin A, and neuromodulation, have shown promising but still heterogeneous results. It is concluded that management should be individualized and based on the best available evidence, while further studies are needed to establish more effective therapeutic protocols.