"Such drugs are predicted to be of particular importance in the treatment of severe cases of COVID-19, when the host inflammatory response becomes a major cause of lung damage and subsequent mortality. " ............"The most significant side-effect seen over 4214 patient-years in the clinical trial programmes used for European Medicines Agency registration was a small increase in upper respiratory tract infections (similar to that observed with methotrexate), but the incidence of serious infections (eg, herpes zoster) over 52 weeks' dosing was small (3·2 per 100 patient-years), and similar to placebo.7 Use of this agent in patients with COVID-19 over 7–14 days, for example, suggests side-effects would be trivial."
...which might be saying that a drug such as MTX reduces lung damage????? ...or does it mean something entirely different?
Meanwhile in Iceland......
"Q. Who is at risk for severe symptoms? A. Risk groups for severe infection have not been well defined. Most people who died in the early phase of the epidemic were elderly and suffered from chronic conditions, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, lung disease, diabetes or liver disease. At this time it is unknown whether immune suppressive treatment (ex. steroids, methotrexate, biologicals) increase the risk of severe COVID-19 infection."
I may stay out of public life for a week or two to see which way this pandemic develops.
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ignatz
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There's a cute meme on FB of the usual keep calm and carry on style - words all dirty looking and it says Keep Calm and Wash Your Hands, and a bar of soap swipes down and sparkles up the letters!
That appears to be working here in the region of northern Italy where I live. The most recent case associated with the region brought it with them from Germany and headed home before being tested. Nothing to do with us - but the media trumpets that "Case tests positive for Covid-19 after Italian ski holiday"
Hi ignatz
We’ve been discussing this over the past couple of days, Heron has kindly sent you a link there are others just scroll down a bit.
I’m on MTX as well as steroids too & we will be posting info/advice as & when we get it.
They can't mention every auto immune condition by name unfortunately and as we know we can low down on the list.
David Heymann, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, agreed. “This is a new disease in humans, so no-one has immunity– health workers, like everyone else, don’t have immunity,”
It's my birthday tomorrow and I'm being taken out for dinner at a nice little Italian restaurant. I'll just forget about coronavirus for the evening as I don't want to spoil the occasion. I will be sure to wash my hands well though, but I've had that particular habit for a long long time, virus or not.
Happy birthday, enjoy your meal and forget about it all for a while. I work full time with the public so I do what I can hygiene wise (I always have been quite careful) and otherwise try not to fret about what might happen. Our local hospital has erected a big tent for drive through testing for the virus and some friends are freaked out by this. I think it’s quite reassuring to be honest. At least people can get tested without actually going into the hospital and infecting others.
I went to the Royal Free on Monday for my regular monthly blood test. There were posters on all the outer doors more or less saying don't come in if you have certain symptoms, then more posters on the inner doors, the walls etc. I think your local hospital's tent for testing is a good idea, though if somebody was found to be positive, what would happen next? They wouldn't be let into the hospital but should they go home on the bus?
I think the tent is for people who aren’t so ill, and can still safely drive themselves there. They don’t get out the car. It’s a bit like a drive through restaurant. Nurses in protective clothing take the swabs while they sit in their car and send them on their way. I think that after the test they drive themselves home again and self isolate and await the results (I think it said 72 hours?). I think that there is another separate isolation type place within the hospital grounds for people who cannot drive but I’m not sure of the details. You only drive there for testing if told to by GP or NHS 111.
I see. This highlights one of the differences between living in the Scottish Highlands and living in London. Here hospitals actively discourage patients from driving to appointments as there's so little parking space. On reflection, I don't think there would be room for a tent at the hospitals I know best.
Ah yes of course. The hospital here has to cover a massive geographical land area with poor public transport links so people tend to have to come by car.
My daughter's booked the table. I have to trust her judgement. The fact is that one of this restaurant's attractions is that it's small and intimate! Still it's Wednesday, not the most popular day for eating out.
1. It appears that people who are older, those with weakened immune systems and people who have underlying chronic conditions including asthma, diabetes or heart disease are more at risk of severe effects. bbc.co.uk/news/health-51703892
2. Prednisolone can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection. Steroids can also worsen an infection you already have, or reactivate an infection you recently had. uofmhealth.org/health-libra...
3. Methotrexate does suppress the immune system, but serious infections with methotrexate are not common. ... Almost all autoimmune diseases require the immune system be suppressed to some degree, because 'overactivity' of the immune system is what drives the illness... hopkinsarthritis.org/ask-th...
So we probably have weakened immune systems , tend to be older, and are at greater risk from Covid19.
It seems that the first case of Covid-19 was on 12.12.2019 in China and the peak of new cases was around the first week of March, so roughly 3 months start to peak.
The first case of Covid-19 was on 31.01.2020 in the UK, so peak might be around the end of April?
Finally UK Government advice.....We are advising those who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures.
This group includes those who are:
a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets
What is social distancing?
Social distancing measures are steps you can take to reduce the social interaction between people. This will help reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).
They are:
Avoid non-essential use of public transport, varying your travel times to avoid rush hour, when possible;
Work from home, where possible. Your employer should support you to do this. Please refer to employer guidance for more information;
Avoid large gatherings, and gatherings in smaller public spaces such as pubs, cinemas, restaurants, theatres, bars, clubs
Avoid gatherings with friends and family.
and….. Keep your windows open to let in fresh air, get some natural sunlight if you can, or get outside into the garden.!!!!!!!
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.
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