Prednisolone : Hi everyone! If I take a... - Asthma Community ...

Asthma Community Forum

22,474 members•24,860 posts

Prednisolone

Sunnydays1982 profile image
•9 Replies

Hi everyone! If I take a course of steroids for a week (30mg each day), will this effect my immune system against Covid 19? Thank you 😊

Written by
Sunnydays1982 profile image
Sunnydays1982
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
9 Replies
•
twinkly29 profile image
twinkly29

No I would say not. Occasional short courses of oral steroids (such as you have described) won't have an effect on the immune system in the same way as many courses would or indeed taking them continuously. I think because it's short lived, the body sort "rights itself" once the course stops.

It is definitely a balance vs risk thing though - even at the height of the covid situation, if someone with asthma requires oral steroids, either a single short course or more than that, then the risk of not taking them is actually greater than any side effects they may or may not get. Not taking them for a single course will likely mean one's asthma remains uncontrolled for longer and so potentially cause more issues in terms of covid than taking the one short course in the first place.

Sunnydays1982 profile image
Sunnydays1982• in reply totwinkly29

Thank you x

Js706 profile image
Js706

As twinkly29 says no it shouldn’t do - they normally only consider there to be a potential risk to the immune system after 3 weeks or so of steroids and even then it’s still only a possible side effect :)

hilary39 profile image
hilary39

It’s better to treat your asthma if it flares up than to be struggling. What does your GP say?

dawnhaycock profile image
dawnhaycock

Can anyone advise how much steroids compromises the immune system? My daughter has been on them for about 18 month, between about 20mg and 10mg.

Thanks

Js706 profile image
Js706• in reply todawnhaycock

As this is just a support forum no-one can advise for sure as to whether there is a problem.

But generally I think anything above 10mg a day for 3 weeks is considered a potential risk - so there would be a potential risk for your daughter.

Does she have a steroid card? As that also gives some advice on it about infections for people on steroids but generally the advice is to take extra precautions generally with infection control (essentially what everyone is having to do now with coronavirus - extra hand washing etc) and to inform your GP if exposed to someone with chickenpox or shingles.

Generally steroids don't tend to have a serious impact on the immune system (other than being slightly more vulnerable to infections) but it can do - although this would present itself with lots of severe infections or infections that are recurrent and take multiple courses of antibiotics to clear. And then there are blood tests that can be done to look for these, but that level of problem is very uncommon.

dawnhaycock profile image
dawnhaycock• in reply toJs706

Thank you, thats very useful. Yes she does have a steroid card and at times has had various infections but has been very well for a while now. She is shielding but I was wondering for when she returns to her hairdressing apprenticeship in August.

Js706 profile image
Js706• in reply todawnhaycock

No problem :) I'm glad she's been well for a while!

She would probably need to make sure she's very careful in following the guidelines on wearing masks and hand washing etc when she goes back as I think she is on a high enough dose of pred to be considered at increased risk for catching things (including coronavirus from what I've been told by my team).

Its probably worth trying to contact her GP or consultant if she's under one (I hope so if she's on long term pred!) to see if they have any extra advice to follow.

dawnhaycock profile image
dawnhaycock• in reply toJs706

Thanks, yes she sees her consultant every month but hasnt been able to during lock down. She has an appointment in two weeks so we will see what he says.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Prednisolone

Hi I wonder if anyone can put my mind at rest. I have been on high dose steroid inhalers for over...
•

Prednisolone

Just wondering if anyone can help really! I've been on Prednisoline now for 7 weeks at 40mg a day...
AlannahK profile image
•

Prednisolone!!

For the past 12 months or so my asthma has worsened and I'm now on a short programme of...
TabithaToes profile image
•

Prednisolone

Hi, my doctor has prescribed Prednisolone 6 x 5mg daily for 5 days. Is 30mg a day normal or is it...
Flowergirl78 profile image
•

Prednisolone

Hi, I attended an out of hours clinic last night and my chest was sounded, SATs checked etc and...
Carriejen profile image
•

Moderation team

See all
Homely2 profile image
Homely2Administrator
Lysistrata profile image
LysistrataAdministrator
ALUK_Nurses profile image
ALUK_NursesAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.