Should you continue to take your allergy treatment?

Confined due to the coronavirus epidemic, we watch spring take up residence from its window. A window that it is recommended to open regularly to ventilate its interior. Not enough to delight asthmatics and anyone else suffering from allergies. The latter are indeed caught between the hammer (the Covid-19) and the anvil (the proliferation of pollens). And ask us what to do.

“I am allergic to pollen and am starting to feel embarrassed. Can I take my antihistamines treatment or is it prohibited, like anti-inflammatories right now? », Michèle

"I have nasal polyps, because I suffer from allergies, I am on corticosteroid treatment: is this considered an aggravating factor when faced with Covid-19?" ", Eric

“My 14 year old daughter is allergic and has to wash her nose daily and take Rhinomaxil and Aerius. Since yesterday, she complains of sore throat and headache, she also has a nose. Should she continue to take her medication? ", Fernandez

I am strongly allergic to pollen, and with the coming season I will take a lot: sneezing, itchy eyes, cough, asthma ... So if I get the coronavirus there is a way that I can really take the price combined with my allergies . But good for some 1/3

Here are the answers that 20 Minutes found:

Tuesday, March 24, the asthma and allergies working group of the French Allergology Society (SFA) on the management of asthmatics during the Covid-19 epidemic posted its recommendations online.

The SFA would first like to point out that "in the current Covid-19 epidemic, and according to the preliminary data at its disposal, asthmatics do not seem to be over-represented". Nevertheless, there are no specific data concerning exacerbations of asthma, a fortiori serious exacerbations, in direct relation with this infection. In fact, "from a theoretical point of view, it is not excluded that infection with the new coronavirus may be responsible for an exacerbation of asthma".

Continue to take treatment ...

In any case, "the basic treatments for asthma must be maintained during the period of the epidemic and adapted so that asthma is perfectly controlled," insists the SFA. In particular, the basic treatment "with inhaled corticosteroids, which do not expose to a risk of more severe respiratory viral infection". Corticosteroids are not non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, molecules associated with more serious forms of infection by Covid-19, specifies the French Allergology Society.

Biotherapies marketed (such as omalizumab, an antibody) or delivered by ANSM via an ATU (for temporary authorization of use), such as injectable solutions such as dupilumab, must also be maintained, keeping the prescribed injection rhythm. Indeed, recalls the SFA, "the biotherapies prescribed in asthma are not immunosuppressive". These drugs can “be injected by the patient at home, if he has been trained by nursing staff, to avoid travel to health care facilities. "

Long-term oral corticosteroid therapy should, as usual, be continued, at the lowest effective dose to control asthma.

… Even in case of suspected contamination

In the event of an exacerbation of febrile asthma, even with suspected Covid-19 infection, the administration of systemic corticosteroids should not be delayed at the usual dose (0.5 to 1 mg / kg). The usual duration of treatment (five days) should be maintained, even if infection with the coronavirus is confirmed.

Finally, “the use of a nebulizer [device transforming certain liquids into a cloud of extremely fine particles] at home, in a suspected or confirmed patient, must therefore be limited to the maximum. The use of an inhalation chamber is to be prioritized. "

Coronavirus: dirty weather for my asthmatic bronchi - France 3 Bretagne https://t.co/ZDnCF258Z1 #asthme #arcaa #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/5tHshZgNLg

Note that the Asthma & Allergies Association, which has issued several press releases since the beginning of the epidemic to take stock of the risks run by asthmatic and / or allergic people, has set up a toll-free number to provide answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Our file on containment

He can be reached on 0800 19 20 21. In addition, the National Aerobiological Surveillance Network (RNSA) continues to distribute an allergopollinic bulletin, to be viewed here.

So that you can see more clearly, 20 Minutes is trying to answer your questions, which you can send us by following the procedure below. Thank you in advance (and take care of yourself)!

• Covid 19
• Allergy
• Asthma
• Health
• Coronavirus
• Society