Protecting asthmatics from COVID-19

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 virus (SARS-CoV-2). Infections were first detected in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and the infection has recently spread worldwide and been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The disease presents with a spectrum of respiratory manifestations that range from asymptomatic cases, to patients with mild and severe symptoms, either with or without pneumonia. Symptoms include fever, upper respiratory tract coryza, cough and acute lower respiratory tract infection. Asthmatics have, thus far, only shown slightly higher risk for hospitalisation but not for mortality. However, this may change in South Africa. Asthmatics are advised to keep their asthma under control and to continue using controller medication. It is critical for all of us, especially asthmatics, to practice ‘social distancing’, wash hands frequently and practise sneeze and cough etiquette.