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 identified in the city of wuhan in china. It causes widespread pneumonia in the lungs, with the most significant laboratory findings being lymphopenia and eosinopenia in the blood count and elevated c-reactive protein and d-dimer. The findings increase with the progression of the clinical picture. Comorbidities in an individual determine the course of the disease, with the most important risk factors among those indicating a severe course being hypertension, ischemic heart disease, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Asthma represents no increased risk in terms of catching the coronavirus disease-2019 (covid-19), and no report has been published to date associating its risk with a more severe disease course. Covid-19, as with all other respiratory infections, interferes with control of asthma. It is important to keep asthma under control during this period, as always. Patients should not stop taking their inhaled steroids, nor should they reduce the dose. Similarly, systemic steroids should not be stopped if prescribed to keep asthma under control. The use of anti-ige, anti il-5/il-5 alpha and anti il-4 alpha does not increase the risk of contracting covid-19, and these drugs may also be used to maintain asthma under control. A "to do" list should be provided to patients by their physicians as an action plan in the event of a worsening of asthma symptoms. Patients with allergic rhinitis can safely use their nasal steroid and antihistaminic drugs. Hand disinfectants that contain chlorhexidine may cause asthma attacks, and are not active against sars-cov-2. Using latex gloves 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 systemic steroids that keep the asthma under control can be used safely. Lowering a step in the treatment of asthma is not recommended in this period.