Coronavirus - COVID 19

[Shell567]

SS patients may find it harder to recover from COVID 19, and there could be an increased risk of complications.

1. SS itself can slightly weaken the immune system - overactive immune system causes increased levels of inflammation. This can prevent certain white blood cells/immune cells from doing their job properly.

2. Immunosuppressant medications used to treat SS, e.g. prednisone, methotrexate, ciclosporin and others, are more of an issue, and can significantly weaken the immune system. Immunosuppressants reduce immune system activity to bring an overactive immune system under control.

3. SS can develop secondary to conditions that weaken the immune system, e.g. myelodysplastic syndromes, common variable immunodeficiency.

4. COVID 19 causes shortness of breath and can lead to pneumonia. SS can affect the lungs, but it doesn't in most cases. People with existing respiratory problems are more likely to be hit harder by COVID 19.

5. In some people, respiratory infection can trigger a SS flare.

A NOTE ABOUT HAND SANITIZERS.

In regards to antibacterial hand gel/sanitizers, many won't work. COVID 19 is a viral not bacterial infection.

Vasculitis UK states "Where you cannot wash your hands, use hand sanitiser. Any hand sanitiser which has a claim against a virus such as influenza will work. Also look out for a code called EN14476. If it doesn’t have either of these they might not work."

If you use an antibacterial hand gel, you ideally want an alcohol (ethanol, ethyl alcohol) content of 70% to kill a virus. Some hand gels contain isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) instead of ethanol. Ethanol is slightly better at killing viruses than isopropyl, but isopropyl is still effective.

Hand gel with a 70% alcohol content can be harder to find, so if you can't find it, go for a 60% alcohol content. Below 60% is ineffective. Please read product specifications carefully, as many antibacterial hand gels contain little or no alcohol.

- Vasculitis UK (providing up-to-date info. Includes links to NHS and GOV UK) vasculitis.org.uk/uncategor...

- CDC cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nc...

- Australian Government health.gov.au/health-topics...

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

Statement on frequent hand washing to reduce coronavirus risk for people with skin diseases affecting the hands skinhealthinfo.org.uk/state...

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

ASTHMA.

- UK asthma.org.uk/about/media/n...

- US community.aafa.org/blog/cor...

[Anna2131p]

Hi my hubby has put me on lockdown as my risk factors as luckily iv got plenty of hand cleaners but I’m back on prednisone at m0ment as having big flare on my shin so it’s broken through the anakinra injections..I said to my hubby I’m more concerned I’m at appointment with my full specialist team next week but had received a phone call from them to see if I could possibly go before my appointment to see them but due to distance I could not as I’m not able to drive that distance alone with my other illnesses so hubby was at work.. So bit concerned why as know they discovered my last bloods showed thrombocytes which is a new thing to appear.. So back to the virus all stay well and avoid if you can as basically we can’t see it to avoid it being transferred..

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

Hi Anna2131p,

You and your hubby are being very sensible because of your risk factors. If your docs needed to see you ASAP, they probably would have kept pushing for you to attend that appointment.

Stay well, too. x

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

Please be very careful about some of the COVID 19 information online right now. It ranges from inaccurate to crazy and even dangerous. Keep safe!

Coronavirus Disease 2019: Myth vs. Fact hopkinsmedicine.org/health/...?

Coronavirus myths explored medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

Coronavirus confirmed as pandemic by World Health Organization bbc.co.uk/news/world-51839944#

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

The four stages of the UK's COVID 19 response plan. UK is now in delay stage (phase 2) news.sky.com/story/coronavi...?

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

People are panic buying in the UK and clearing the shelves of handwash, so Dr Adrian Heald, from Salford, Manchester, shares some sensible advice about handwashing and COVID 19.

- "Stay calm...bars of soap will work against the disease if liquid variants are unavailable."

- "... 'coronavirus has a fatty outer layer' and can be countered by 'anything that dissolves fat'."

- "...if liquid soaps are sold out, a bar will also do the job (rinse after use and put dry) or use dish washing liquid, the coronavirus has a fatty outer layer, anything that dissolves fat will work!""

- For people using food banks "dish washing liquid might be the only option.""

This is general advice. If you have a skin condition affecting the hands then you'll have to be more cautious. Dish washing liquid is very drying. If you're able to wash your hands then do so. It's more effective than hand gel.

mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/d...?

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and protecting older people and vulnerable adults gov.uk/government/publicati...

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

Covid-19 (Coronavirus): Immunosuppressive treatments in dermatology skinhealthinfo.org.uk/covid...

[Shell567 Administrator Sweet's Syndrome UK]

The International Society of Systemic Auto-Inflammatory Diseases. ISSAID recommendations for COVID-19. issaid.org/news.html#6