Inclusion Criteria:  all signs and symptoms were recorded included fever >38 °C, fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, sore throat, headache, and its localization (diffuse, frontal, other localization), rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, epistaxis, tinnitus, and hearing loss, sneezing, cough, sputum production, hemoptysis, dyspnea, respiratory rate >22, crackling sounds during auscultation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.  Exclusion Criteria:  patients with absolute contraindications for systemic corticosteroids administration, pregnant women, smokers, and patients with any systemic disease or taking any medications that cause loss of taste or smell were excluded from this study.