We have updated this blog post to reflect more recent information on the 2019 new coronavirus (COVID-19). Even though coronavirus numbers have risen worldwide, people in the U.S. are still at a greater risk of getting the flu. Keep washing your hands and avoiding people who are sick. And don't forget to follow your Asthma Action Plan if you start feeling ill.

I have intermittent asthma. I usually manage my symptoms (wheezing during the pollen season) with antihistamines and sometimes the Ventolin inhaler. I had an attack about a month ago and the last time before that was 10 years ago. For the most recent attack, I was prescribed Deltacortril for five days, and they certainly sorted the problem. The doctor also suggested I take a preventive inhaler to keep the asthma at bay. However, I read on the internet that the preventive inhaler which...

Hi @Azmtick - those are all great questions! Many long-term controller or preventative medicine inhalers do contain an inhaled corticosteroid. These prevent and reduce airway swelling. They also reduce mucus in the lungs. They are the most effective long-term control medicines available. It's important to keep taking your controller medicine even when you don't have symptoms because they prevent asthma symptoms. Stopping your controller medicine may increase your asthma symptoms and the risk...

Thanks Kathy P. That's very useful advice.

I can't find any information anywhere about patients with asthma (specifically) and COVID-19 mortality rates. I am a relatively healthy individual with mild but persistent allergy triggered asthma. My singulair seems to keep it under control. I've had the flu twice this season (different strains) with no complications. But, I am curious, so these are my questions: I've heard that the jury is still out on what exactly causes respiratory complications from viruses in people with asthma. Some...

Hello @I Am Curious , I am happy to hear you weathered two different flu virus strains this year without complications! Most healthy people recover from flu without complications (and is what is being seen in coronavirus COVID-19 as well). But when you have asthma, it can put you at higher risk because asthmatic lungs already have swelling. When you have a respiratory infection, your immune system responds by creating more mucus and releasing substances from your cells to fight the virus or...

Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network February 28, 2020, 1505 ET (3:05 PM ET) Update and Interim Guidance on Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to closely monitor and respond to the COVID-19 outbreak caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. This CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Update provides updated guidance on evaluating and testing persons under investigation (PUIs) for COVID-19. It supersedes...

I’m not sure the flu comparison is terribly helpful here. There is a flu vaccine which at least keeps some types of flu at bay, if not all. Despite the fact that we are generally familiar with coronaviruses, there is much we still don’t know about this one. For example, there seem to be indicators that people are spreading the virus while asymptomatic, but no one is sure how. If this is indeed the case, then that makes infection control much more difficult. I’m worried about my baby. She’s...

Sorry, my baby didn’t have flu. RSV-induced bronchiolitis with pneumonia. Thankfully we’ve avoided flu so far.

Both my young adult kids have Flu- and cold-virus induced asthma. One of them is on the other side of the country at college. What do we know about the risk of Covid-19 with patients with this type of asthma? They both had their flu shots last fall. Should we be stocking up on anti-viral medication or Prednisone? The anti-viral medication really helped reduce the symptoms my son experienced in years past when he got the flu (which he got despite getting the flu vaccination).

I just read an article today that stated do not take steroids for the corona virus. It makes it worse. 1. is this true? 2. nebulizers and rescue inhalers are essentially steroidal. Does this also apply to them? 3. should we try to avoid using this if we contract the virus?

Welcome Evita - those are all great questions! We are currently working with our medical scientific council to update the blog based on the lastest information known about the virus.

Thank you all for submitting your questions! We are working on updating our blog above with updated numbers and recommendations. We have also sent a list of questions to our Medical Scientific Council and will share the information as soon as we hear back from the council. Stay safe and keep washing your hands!

We need a practical article that will be radically honest and realistic about how to survive this as immune-compromised people. What concrete steps should we take WHEN (not “if”) this virus spreads to our community? For example, I am doing the following: procuring an N95 mask to use in public when the virus becomes pervasive; filling all prescriptions I may need if I get sick (inhalers, prednisone, etc.); getting the pneumonia vaccine to prevent the secondary infection if I can; stocking up...

Welcome CoachBW - we are working on getting the blog updated and have asked our medical advisors specific questions. Your plan follows many of the CDC recommendations for how to prepare your household for a possible COVID-19 outbreak . One reminder about masks is that they are most effective when worn by someone who is sick to prevent the spread of the virus through cough droplets. In general, masks don't provide much protection to someone who is not sick. You'd have to be directly...

I absolutely agree with you CoachBW. I've been all around the internet looking for solid advise. I thought this would be one place where i could get some specific advice. Hoping better answers come sooner than later.

The title of your article is misleading; there is no information in your article specific to people suffering from asthma. Contracting coronavirus and having asthma as an underlying condition has been highly publicized as leading to critical health issues or fatalities. Your article offers nothing specific to asthma. You should consider changing the article title to: Coronavirus: What You Need to Know, since the content is general information for the public, until you actually have content...

Thank you for updating your article with specific advice regarding yesterday's comments placed below.

You are welcome, Aetzel. Thank you for your patience while we continue to update the article as more information is made available. Lorene

Thank you for the updates! Super helpful! I just wanted to point out that the one study that found no to link to increased risk of complications in persons with asthma also didn't study anyone with asthma. Ie none of the 140 had (or knew they had) asthma. I think that's an important detail. The wording of the study itself, concerning asthma and allergic diseases, is misleading until you read the whole thing. Two patients had COPD and they both had grim outcomes. Take what you want from that,...

Absolutely agree with you on this. That study is not particularly helpful and I’m unclear ho they came to the conclusion they did without the direct study of asthmatics. It’s hard not to panic.

I just think that N95 masks can be helpful. They found the size of the corona virus and those masks block that size particle and yes it needs a tight seal but that is perfectly possible to teach people what that is. It can help. And high-risk population should know this and have time to irder and waut fir one before it gets widespread. And its possible to make enough for everyone including healthcare workers. And it doesnt need to be mandated fir everyobe, it usnt 100 percent, but it can...

i suffer from seasonal allergies & it’s been bad especially in NYC ... my doctor 🥼 gave me a cortisone shot on the buttocks to i believe reduce my allergies symptoms & told me i won’t have to do it again till next month... my question is , if the cortisone shot weakens the immune system was it a smart decision to trust my doctor while the corona virus is out & around my state & actually my county ... i can’t imagine why he wouldn’t take that into consideration & discuss...

I have asthma but it is well controlled with medication. My 4 year old son also has mild asthma that is typically aggravated by colds. He is too young for control medications at least based on his pattern of symptoms. He uses a nebulizer when he is sick. We are traveling in a few weeks and I am very concerned about him. I am trying not to be paranoid but, it is hard when so little is known. He is 4 so handwashing is a constant battle. I feel like I should put a mask on him at least on the...

Usually one shot doesn't do enough to weaken your immune system. The dosage is too small and it's only a one time thing. If you were to get shots frequently and on a regular basis, it would have more of an effect on the strength of your immune system and your doctor would be required to let you know. But in an otherwise healthy individual with only one shot, you should be in the clear. This is just what my doctor told me. I'm no doctor. If you to be super thorough, call your doctors office...

Hi @AG - I don't blame you for being concerned for your little one. According to the CDC, there is no evidence that children are more susceptible to the virus. In fact, most confirmed cases reported from China have been in adults. The CDC says "Children and their family members should engage in usual preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory infections, including covering coughs, cleaning hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and staying up to date on...

Hi @Candace - we appreciate your feedback. Have you checked out the latest update? There is a Q&A with Mitchell Grayson, M.D., FAAAAI, FACAAI, allergist/immunologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital and chair of AAFA’s Medical Scientific Council . He specifically addresses asthma and COVID-19. Lorene

Hi @Shea N95 masks may provide a layer of protection, but they may be hard to breathe through when you have asthma or an infection. They can also be hot, and often masks lead to people touching their face more in an effort to make the mask most comfortable. Wearing a mask can't hurt, but hand washing and sanitizing are going to be our best bet for protection. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Lorene

Can I suggest that you refer to the actual text of the Chinese report at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.co...ll/10.1111/all.14238 rather than the summary linked on this page. It provides much more detail and explanation of their findings in the Chinese study. It shows that the prevalence of asthma, COPD and allergy in the study was, surprisingly, lower than in the general population. Good luck to all.

Hi - my asthma comes about mostly when I get a cold and at times (3-4 times in last few years) it has developed into bronchitis and walking pneumonia. Also I have animals which I am allergic to and of course I have that has developed into asthma and shortness of breathe. I use an Inhaler prior to working out as a precautionary measure bc at times I develop shortness of breathe. I also have a disc. After reading your article it appears that people w asthma that’s controlled are no more at...

@Argos1w - Because this is a new virus, researchers are still collecting data about the risk for people with asthma. Keeping your asthma under control reduces the risk of complications from any type of respiratory illness.

Can coronavirus mask itself in positive tests for FluA or FluB? If a person were to test positive for either of those influenza viruses are they clear of corona?

Could this be because the prevalence of asthma in China is lower? Or at least it’s left undiagnosed more often, and that would skew the results of a study.

How old is your child? Both of my children displayed symptoms of asthma around age 2. They were both put on preventative medication. This was not easy to accomplish as the newer standards require them to be older then 4. If they are around that age group I would suggest getting very involved with their pediatrician. Simple cases of bronchiolitis had my children staying in children’s hospital for days. (Each visit was to the tune of 24k, for them to supply oxygen) This was extremely...

He is 4.5. He has had bronchiolitis multiple times. He has never been hospitalized but each bout seems to get a little worse. It also seems to take him longer to recover. Often when I’ve taken him in to the doctor, although he has a lot of mucus, there’s no wheezing. I was rushed to the hospital multiple times as a child with blue lips. This is one of my biggest fears with him. Thankfully we have never experienced this. I’ve been on prednisone many times in the past with respiratory...

I am struck by how “experts” keep reassuring the general public that there is no alarm if you’re healthy and then in passing mention the elderly and those with underlying issues are at higher risk - like we don’t need reassurance. Very little time is spent on these groups when talking about Coronavirus. There are countless people that fall into these categories - lung disease, heart disease, cancers, etc. It is hard not to panic or have anxiety with the 24/7 coverage. So i wash my hands...

Yes they have said these people are at greater risk of complications. That really is just a foregone conclusion. What they are all, including all the coverage you see on tv is transmission. Just because you are of compromised health does not mean you are at greater risk of contracting the illness. The current focus is on preventing the spread of the virus. It’s important to weigh what you see in the coverage, very little study has been done on the severity due to the rapid spreading. The...

I’m not looking for percentages. I’m just expressing thoughts here. Nothing more....

The information on severity and who and how it affects is not in yet. Until they can say precisely I doubt they will.

It’s important to note this article is talking about transmission, not affect or severity.

I wouldn’t worry too much he may be at risk but if he has not been hospitalized for it before it may not make thing much worse then if he had no history. I would invest in a pulse oximeter though, they are surprisingly inexpensive. They can make sure he is getting enough oxygen and cut down on unnecessary visits to the doctor.

So I don’t use any asthma meds day to day as i haven’t needed them for years. Should I start using a preventer due to the covid-19 virus to protect myself or just keep a reliever just in case? I had asthma as a kid and was hospitalised, it went away a few years later. I had an asthma attack 25 odd years later after a bad chest infection caused by smoking, again after a few months I didn’t need any inhalers etc. So now I’m 8-10 years on from that attack thinking if I should start taking a...

Hi! It's great that your asthma is so well controlled that you don't need to take a daily controller/preventative medication. A preventer medicine will not keep you from getting COVID-19. I recommend you talk to your health care provider about your concerns. Let them know as soon as possible if you have any asthma or flu-like symptoms. It is important to identify and treat any virus as quickly as possible. Lorene

The testing for COVID-19 is based on looking for specific gene sequences unique to that virus. Those are gene sequences that do not appear in other similar viruses. How do the new coronavirus tests work? Updated to add: you theoretically could have both viruses in which case you will test positive for flu A/B.

Shea - I agree with you. I live in NYC and travel to work on the subway and wearing a n95 mask would greatly decrease my chances of contracting the virus where I am in close proximity to strangers. I do understand that the CDC and WHO are trying to quell the general population from buying/wearing masks when basic hygiene would be more helpful in the long term but they are not protecting those the with the 'underlying health conditions' that they continually mention. This is a situation where...

I too am desperately looking for hints on what to do in the Covid-19 situation as someone with Asthma. From what I understand, I am not more likely to contract the virus, but it is likely that it will affect me more strongly once I do. Given the fact that at this point, we're mostly talking about "when" we will all be infected, rather than "if" - shouldn't it be the logical next step to quarantine everyone who's part of the higher risk demographic? I have a job that I could potentially do...

Hi Ellie and welcome! The situation is continuously evolving and not all areas are impacted the same right now. Social distancing, including working from home, are coming from local health departments. There are several topics on the forum discussing how to prepare - https://community.aafa.org/topic/566946312539943977

That article that supposedly shows that people with asthma are at low risk had NO people with asthma in it! They presume that since asthma rates in Wuhan are low, that people with asthma aren't at risk. How did that get past empirical review?