Table 1.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria	Exclusion criteria
Smell loss directly following an URTI	Symptom-free interval
18 years of age or older	URTI during the study period
Written informed consent	Neurological diseases that may impair the sense of smell (e.g Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease)
Absence of chronic infection of the nasal cavities or sinuses	Dermatological problems that may complicate the application of the needles