Astma and COVID-19

Abstract

Humanity encountered a coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (sars-cov-2))pandemic on december 31, 2019 that is threatening the human race. The disease was first identifiedin the city of wuhan in china. It causes widespread pneumonia in the lungs, with the most significantlaboratory findings being lymphopenia and eosinopenia in the blood count and elevated c-reactiveprotein and d-dimer. The findings increase with the progression of the clinical picture. Comorbiditiesin an individual determine the course of the disease, with the most important risk factors amongthose indicating a severe course being hypertension, ischemic heart disease, diabetes and chronicobstructive pulmonary disease. Asthma represents no increased risk in terms of catching thecoronavirus disease-2019 (covid-19), and no report has been published to date associating its riskwith a more severe disease course. Covid-19, as with all other respiratory infections, interferes withcontrol of asthma. It is important to keep asthma under control during this period, as always. Patientsshould not stop taking their inhaled steroids, nor should they reduce the dose. Similarly, systemicsteroids should not be stopped if prescribed to keep asthma under control. The use of anti-ige, antiil-5/il-5 alpha and anti il-4 alpha does not increase the risk of contracting covid-19, and these drugsmay also be used to maintain asthma under control. A “to do” list should be provided to patients bytheir physicians as an action plan in the event of a worsening of asthma symptoms. Patients withallergic rhinitis can safely use their nasal steroid and antihistaminic drugs. Hand disinfectants thatcontain chlorhexidine may cause asthma attacks, and are not active against sars-cov-2. Using latexgloves to ensure hand hygiene may also lead to asthma attacks in individuals with a latex allergy.Washing the hands with water and soap should be preferred rather than using gloves. In conclusion,covid-19 does not constitute a greater risk to patients with asthma. Inhaled steroids and systemicsteroids that keep the asthma under control can be used safely. Lowering a step in the treatment ofasthma is not recommended in this period.