Follow-up to: Are there human studies linking COVID to chronic rhinosinusitis?
Question explored with the scientific record
Are there any studies tracking sinus symptoms after COVID over time?
The short version: the evidence you retrieved does not track sinus symptoms after COVID over time in any longitudinal study.
None of the 26 studies here follow patients with sinus-specific outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The closest is a 2021 cross-sectional study of 179 hospitalized COVID survivors assessed two months after discharge, but it measured neurocognitive function, psychiatric symptoms, and general quality of life—not sinus symptoms [2]. A 2025 Taiwanese study of 84 children with post-acute sequelae of COVID used a somatic symptom inventory that could include nasal complaints, but it did not report sinus-specific results [1]. The rest of the evidence covers cell lines, mouse models, chronic rhinosinusitis mechanisms unrelated to COVID, and other infections entirely [3–26].
No study in this set compared sinusitis rates in people with and without prior COVID infection. No study followed patients over time to see if new sinus disease developed after recovery. The most informative study design—vaccinated versus unvaccinated, with sinus outcomes tracked—was never run. The gap itself is the finding.
My call: the evidence does not answer whether sinus symptoms persist or evolve after COVID. Confidence: not clear—the question has not been studied in the evidence you provided.
Sources examined 26
-
Effectiveness of Kinder Lebensqualität Fragebogen (KINDL) and Children’s Somatic Symptom Inventory-24 (CSSI-24) for measuring postacute sequelae of COVID-19 in children: a diagnostic validation study
In this prospective Taiwanese study, the KINDL quality of life tool and the CSSI-24 somatic symptom inventory were evaluated for diagnosing and screening postacute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) in children, revealing a negative association between somatic symptoms and QoL, a KINDL…
DOI: 10.3345/cep.2025.00983 -
Short‐term neuropsychiatric outcomes and quality of life in COVID‐19 survivors
A cross-sectional analysis of 179 hospitalized COVID-19 survivors in Valencia, Spain, assessed 2 months after discharge for neurocognitive function, psychiatric symptoms, and quality of life, finding high prevalence of cognitive impairment (58.7% with at least moderate impairmen…
DOI: 10.1111/joim.13262 -
Cellular Immune Responses to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) Infection in Senescent BALB/c Mice: CD4 + T Cells Are Important in Control of SARS-CoV Infection
In aged BALB/c mice infected with SARS-CoV, CD4+ T cells are essential for viral clearance and limiting lung disease, while CD8+ T cells are not required for clearance; the study reveals a biphasic inflammatory mediator response and shows Ab-dependent and innate mechanisms can c…
DOI: 10.1128/JVI.01281-09 -
Evaluation of Antibody-Dependent Enhancement of SARS-CoV Infection in Rhesus Macaques Immunized with an Inactivated SARS-CoV Vaccine
This study evaluates the potential for antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of SARS-CoV infection in rhesus macaques immunized with an inactivated SARS-CoV vaccine, finding no evidence of ADE and suggesting the vaccine's safety for clinical trials.
DOI: 10.1007/s12250-018-0009-2 -
Host–Virus Interface in Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Infections: Viral Characteristic Evolution and Gene Expression Profiling Analysis
This study investigates the viral characteristics and host gene expression changes in persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections, revealing significant differences in infectivity and immune responses over time, along with genomic mutations that may facilitate immune escape.
DOI: 10.3390/ijms26136221 -
Discovery of Novel Human and Animal Cells Infected by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus by Replication-Specific Multiplex Reverse Transcription-PCR
This study developed a multiplex reverse transcription-PCR assay to identify novel human and animal cells susceptible to SARS-CoV infection, revealing that various cell lines, including human embryonic kidney (HEK-293T) and liver (Huh-7) cells, can support viral replication, whi…
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.42.7.3196-3206.2004 -
Associations Between Inflammatory and Catecholamine Markers and Clinical Outcomes in People with Post-Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection
In this cross-sectional study of 79 adults with post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), the authors linked circulating cytokines, chemokines, and catecholamines with patient-reported outcomes, finding significant associations particularly for epinephrine and IL-1β that suggest i…
DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S534539 -
Immunological responses in SARS-CoV-2 and HIV co-infection versus SARS-CoV-2 mono-infection: case report of the interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and HIV
This study investigates the immune responses in a case of SARS-CoV-2 and HIV co-infection, revealing significant immune activation and dysregulation that may lead to poor clinical outcomes in HIV-infected individuals.
DOI: 10.1186/s13223-023-00846-8 -
SARS-CoV-2 coinfection in patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: clinical characteristics and prognosis
This study investigates the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) who also have SARS-CoV-2 coinfection, revealing that such patients have a significantly higher mortality risk compared to those without the viral infection.
DOI: 10.1186/s12941-025-00805-8 -
Possible involvement of neuropeptide Y sub-receptor 1 (NPY-Y1) in the anti-viral response of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Syrian hamster
This study investigates the role of neuropeptide Y sub-receptor 1 (NPY-Y1) in the antiviral response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in Syrian hamsters, demonstrating that co-administration of Molnupiravir and Remdesivir reduces inflammatory responses and viral replication.
DOI: 10.2220/biomedres.46.37 -
Leukocyte Count in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients After SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination and Infection
This study investigates the impact of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination and infection on leukocyte counts in solid organ transplant recipients, finding no association between vaccination and decreased leukocyte counts, while infection significantly increased the risk of leukopenia.
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines13020103 -
Dominant and cross-reactive S1-specific memory B cell response induced by primary SARS-CoV-2 infection
This study investigates the dominant and cross-reactive memory B cell response to primary SARS-CoV-2 infection, revealing a significant S1-specific response and the potential for cross-reactivity with SARS-CoV, which may inform vaccine development and therapeutic strategies agai…
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-06847-4 -
Characterization of IL-18 Expression and Release in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Rhinosinusitis
This study investigates the expression and release of IL-18 in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and its role in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic inflammation and nasal polyp formation.
DOI: 10.1159/000341668 -
Role of prostaglandin D 2 and CRTH 2 blockade in early‐ and late‐phase nasal responses
In a mouse model of allergic rhinitis, intranasal prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) induces both early- and late-phase nasal responses, and selective CRTH2 blockade with ARRY-063 prevents these responses, reduces nasal inflammation and cytokine production, and decreases eosinophilia.
DOI: 10.1111/cea.12280 -
Ozone inhalation induces exacerbation of eosinophilic airway inflammation and Th2-skew immune response in a rat model of AR
Repeated ozone exposure worsens allergic rhinitis symptoms and promotes a Th2-skewed eosinophilic inflammatory response in a rat ovalbumin-induced AR model, in a dose-dependent manner.
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111261 -
Cytokine correlation between sinus tissue and nasal secretions among chronic rhinosinusitis and controls
This study investigates the correlation of cytokine levels between sinus tissue and nasal secretions in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and controls, revealing significant correlations for several cytokines and highlighting differences in cytokine profiles between CRS…
DOI: 10.1002/lary.24305 -
Role of IL-13 in allergic rhinitis inflammation: Preliminary results
IL-13 is upregulated locally in the nasal mucosa and systemically in allergic rhinitis, with higher IL-13 in nasal lavage than serum and increased IL-13 gene expression, supporting its role as a biomarker and potential therapeutic target in AR.
DOI: 10.3897/pharmacia.73.e167296 -
Revisiting the Roles of Mast Cells in Allergic Rhinitis and its Relation to Local IgE Synthesis
This study reviews the roles of nasal mast cells in allergic rhinitis, highlighting their significant contribution to local IgE synthesis and the mechanisms underlying allergic inflammation.
DOI: 10.2500/105065800781329582 -
Chronic rhinosinusitis ? need for further classification?
This study investigates the inflammatory characteristics of chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps, suggesting a need for further classification into distinct disease entities based on differences in eosinophil and neutrophil infiltration and cytokine levels.
DOI: 10.1007/s00011-003-1232-2 -
COMPARISON OF INFLAMMATORY ELEMENTS IN NASAL LAVAGE AND INDUCED SPUTUM FOLLOWING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO MOLDY-BUILDING MICROBES
This study investigates the predictive value of inflammatory markers in nasal lavage fluid for assessing lower respiratory tract inflammation following occupational exposure to moldy-building microbes, finding that while levels of nitric oxide and interleukin-4 in nasal lavage c…
DOI: 10.1080/08958370290084557 -
Allergic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, and asthma: one airway disease
A comprehensive review arguing that allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyps, and asthma share common inflammatory mechanisms and should be managed as a single airway disease with integrated upper and lower airway care.
DOI: 10.1016/S0889-8561(03)00104-8 -
Contribution of the Proinflammatory Cytokine IL‐18 in the Formation of Human Nasal Polyps
This study investigates the expression and role of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-18 in the formation of human nasal polyps, revealing its significant upregulation in polyp tissues compared to normal nasal mucosa and its potential involvement in the inflammatory process.
DOI: 10.1002/ar.21385 -
Interleukin-8 Expression in Normal Nasal Epithelium and Its Modulation by Infection with Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Cytokines Tumor Necrosis Factor, Interleukin-1, and Interleukin-6
This study investigates the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in normal human nasal epithelium and its modulation by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukins 1 and 6, revealing that IL-8 is constitutively exp…
DOI: 10.1165/ajrcmb/8.1.20 -
Airway function and nasal inflammation in seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma
In patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma, nasal eosinophil infiltration and Th2 cytokines (IL-4) in nasal lavage correlate with nasal airflow impairment and reduced FEV1, supporting a nose-to-bronchial cross-talk in allergic airway disease.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2004.01970.x -
Upper airway inflammation and respiratory symptoms in domestic waste collectors
This study investigates the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and upper airway inflammation in domestic waste collectors compared to controls, revealing that waste collectors exhibit higher levels of inflammation and respiratory issues likely due to exposure to organic dust.
DOI: 10.1136/oem.59.2.106 -
Allergic inflammation
A comprehensive review of human allergic inflammation across skin, nasal and bronchial tissues showing that allergen-induced tissue eosinophilia is associated with Th2-type cytokine mRNA expression (IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, GM-CSF), the impact of allergen provocation and immunotherapy …
DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.1993.tb00332.x