COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As the disease primarily affects the respiratory system, people with moderate to severe asthma who develop Covid-19 may be at higher risk of developing severe symptoms.
People with asthma may have concerns about how Covid-19 will affect them. The best way to reduce the risk of developing severe illness from Covid-19 is by controlling the condition and maintaining consistent infection prevention habits.
Asthma is a chronic lung condition that affects the airways and causes inflammation. This inflammation causes spasms and narrowing of the airways, which leads to wheezing, breathlessness, and coughing.
Generally, when a person contracts a respiratory virus, the infection sets the body’s immune response in motion. In people with asthma, this can lead to an overproduction of substances that only worsen inflammation.
Covid-19 is slightly different. It causes an inflammatory process inside lung tissue rather than the usual bronchial inflammation that occurs in asthma.
Respiratory viral infections, such as Covid-19, can trigger and worsen asthma symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it can also lead to pneumonia in people with moderate to severe asthma.
However, at present, there is no evidence suggesting that people with asthma are any more likely to contract Covid-19 than anyone else.
For example, a 2020 study of 140 hospitalized people with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, did not include any people with asthma. This suggests that asthma may not be a strong risk factor for contracting the virus.
Despite this, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), other strains of coronavirus can worsen asthma. People with asthma should be extra cautious as research data is limited, and in its early stages.
People must continue to take their asthma medication as usual during the pandemic. Keeping asthma symptoms under control is one of the best methods people with asthma can take to protect themselves.
According to the ACAAI, there is no evidence that asthma medications will increase the risk of contracting the virus or worsen outcomes of Covid-19.
Most people who develop Covid-19 get better at home with no additional medical treatment. People with severe symptoms or other health problems may require hospital care.
