What Researchers Did
Canadian doctors reported a patient with COVID-19-related parosmia, a condition where smells are distorted and often perceived as disgusting, who had not improved with standard treatments and was then treated with HBOT.
What They Found
After HBOT, the patient experienced significant improvement in parosmia that had not responded to olfactory training or steroids. The case demonstrates HBOT as a potential option for persistent COVID-related smell distortion.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Millions of Canadians experienced smell disturbances after COVID-19 infection, and for many, parosmia persists long after recovery, affecting quality of life, appetite, and nutrition. This Canadian case suggests HBOT may offer relief for those whose smell distortion has not improved with other treatments, one of the very few reported options for this difficult condition.
Canadian Relevance
This study was authored by Canadian researchers (Krimus L, Clarke H, Katznelson R) and conducted in Canada, making it directly relevant to Canadian clinical practice. COVID-19-related parosmia is not an OHIP-covered indication for HBOT in Ontario.
Study Limitations
This is a single case report, so it is not known how often HBOT helps with COVID parosmia or what the optimal treatment protocol should be.