Evaluation of the Effects of Auriculotherapy and Laser Auriculotherapy in the Treatment of Changes in Smell After COVID-19
摘要
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the new coronavirus, also known as severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There are characteristic systemic changes during and after the disease process, called long COVID, which can highlight the sensory changes in smell that negatively affect the quality of life of individuals. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of auriculotherapy (AT) and laser auriculotherapy (LAT) in the treatment for people with loss of smell after COVID-19. After approval by the ERC (n. 5.357.603), acceptance and signing of the consent form by the participants, with a PCR exam or positive self-test for COVID-19, all treated, over 18 years old, both sexes were randomly divided into groups: G1 (AT) (n=12) AT with mustard seeds; G2 (LAT) (n= 12) AT with low power laser (Laser Duo, MMOptics, Brazil) (808 nm, 3 J, 100 mW, 30 s, tip area 0.03 cm2, 3.33 W/cm2, 100 J/cm2). AT and LAT were performed in contact with the skin on the ear at the acupoints: Shen Men, Kidney, Sympathetic, Tongue, Mouth, External Nose, Internal Nose/Pharynx, Heart, Lung, once a week, total of 10 sessions. Participants were evaluated by anamnesis, Sensory Assessment Tests (SAT) of Smell before and after each session. These results showed that for SAT smell in the intragroup analysis in AT and LAT there was a significant difference before and after treatments (p<0.05), there was no statistical difference (p> 0.05) between the AT and LAT treatments. It can be concluded that auriculotherapy and auriculotherapy laser were effective in recovering olfactory perception in people with loss of smell after COVID-19 COVID-19.