In the midst of the pandemic due to the new coronavirus, in Spain we are also joined by the dreaded period of allergies, which, although with climate change and the alteration of the cycles in which the trees bloom, extends even before spring, now is when it begins to hit allergy sufferers the hardest.
Given this situation and the difficulty that it may entail for these patients to differentiate the classic symptoms of allergy and those of the new coronavirus , the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC) has explained how COVID-19 affects allergic patients and urges follow the general recommendations of the Ministry of Health. Allergy sufferers are not more likely to get the disease.
“We must not confuse allergy, cold and coronavirus symptoms,” emphasizes Dr. Pedro Ojeda, Head of Communication at the SEAIC. What should make us suspect that it is an allergy, especially if it is due to pollens, is that the symptoms will worsen when the patient is outdoors and will improve notably when they remain indoors. In addition, the symptoms of allergic rhinitis tend to remit rather quickly after taking topical or oral antihistamines and the presence of fever is nil, unless it is complicated by acute sinusitis ”.
“ The data that we have at the moment on the disease does not seem to indicate that being allergic carries a greater risk of contracting the coronavirus infection . In fact, the immune system of an allergic person works like that of a non-allergic person with respect to its defense function against microorganisms ”, points out Ojeda.
The state of alarm declared in our country on March 14 that prohibits going out on the street except to go to the doctor, to work, to take care of those who need it, to buy basic necessities and to take the dog out to strictly do its Physiological needs will benefit allergic patients as it will considerably reduce their exposure to pollens . According to the SEAIC, allergy sufferers will need to use fewer allergy medications but insist that they must “be compliant with their asthma medication. In addition, this must be completed with measures to reduce the levels of pollens inside homes ”.
Recommendations to reduce indoor pollen levels are as follows:
– The houses should not be ventilated between 12 and 17 hours because they are the hours with the highest amount of pollens in the atmosphere, due to the increase in light and temperature.
– The use of air purifiers in the home can also contribute to the reduction of exposure to pollens indoors.
The SEAIC also indicates that mobility restrictions will reduce the pollution produced by diesel vehicles as well as other industrial emissions, responsible for the aggravation of allergic symptoms in large cities.
People with asthma, for their part, do need to take precautionary measures. The reason for this is that their airways are more susceptible to infections, especially viral infections and, remember that COVID-19 is a virus. If an asthmatic suffers a respiratory infection, the inflammation of his bronchial tubes will be greater than that of a non-asthmatic person, thus increasing the possibility of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and a greater risk of an asthma attack.
“The coronavirus has a special predilection for the lungs and it could induce a greater degree of inflammation in the respiratory tract, a greater risk of asthma attacks and, possibly, a greater severity of the COVID-19 infection ,” says Dr. Ángel Moral, president of the Aerobiology Committee of the SEAIC.
“ Doing the treatment irregularly or stopping taking it because we feel well can contribute to the inflammation of the bronchi beginning to get out of control , although initially the patient does not realize it. This slight inflammation can cause the bronchi to be more susceptible to respiratory infections ”, warns Dr. Moral.
Therefore, without this leading to a panic situation, asthmatics should be especially disciplined with general measures to prevent contagion by the new coronavirus : frequent hand washing with soap and water, avoid interpersonal relationships, contact with people who have symptoms of respiratory infection (however mild it may be) and wear a mask if they need to frequent higher risk areas such as health centers or emergencies.
Differences between allergy, cold and coronavirus infection
According to the SEAIC, the main difference is in the type of symptoms and their course.
The symptoms of allergic rhinitis are mainly nasal itching, often associated with itchy eyes, repeated sneezing, watery nasal distillation (typical water) and nasal congestion of more or less intense.
We will know that it is an allergy, especially caused by pollens, because the symptoms will worsen when the person is outdoors and will improve a lot when they are indoors. In addition, the symptoms of allergic rhinitis usually resolve somewhat quickly after taking topical or oral antihistamines. The presence of fever is nil, unless it is complicated by acute sinusitis.
In asthma, isolated symptoms can be a dry cough and shortness of breath, something that could be confused with the initial symptoms of the new coronavirus infection , although in asthma there is no reason to have a fever. Along the same lines, asthma symptoms often easily reverse with the use of a rescue bronchodilator (salbutamol or terbutaline).
In the case of a cold, the symptoms can begin like those of a rhinitis: with nasal congestion, runny nose and, sometimes, sneezing. In general, they increase in intensity in the space of 1 to 3 days and the mucus evolves to thick, greenish-yellowish. It progressively resolves over 3-4 more days, which is why, in more or less 6-7 days, it would be resolved if it were not complicated by sinusitis. In addition, if it is not a more intense cold, there is usually no high fever. A low-grade fever may appear and be accompanied by some general malaise.
In the case of the new coronavirus, data have shown that the symptoms can be mild (similar to a mild cold) and more commonly with flu-like symptoms : moderate to severe fever, general malaise and dejection, usually coughing dry, and may associate phlegm and shortness of breath. The symptoms are progressive, and from the beginning of its presentation it is usually associated with the feeling of general malaise, as when we start with a flu.
