DO SEVERE PEDIATRIC ASTHMA PATIENTS HAVE AN INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY OF
BEING INFECTED BY COVID-19?
Abstract
Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 caused by SARS-CoV2 virus has
rapidly spread worldwide becoming one of the most important challenges
humans are facing nowadays. Risk factors for severe outcomes have been
identified, but asthma seems not to be one of them. Objectives: To
analyze lifestyle before the pandemic in severe pediatric asthma
patients in treatment with a monoclonal antibody, belonging to
Castellon’s Universitary General Hospital Health’s Department, and
investigate the prevalence of COVID-19 in these patients in order to see
if their lifestyle may have influenced the probability of being infected
by COVID-19. Methods: A questionnaire was developed asking about: their
lifestyle before the pandemic; suggestive COVID-19 symptoms and
exposition to the disease; and patients’ behavior, asthma control and
treatment during the pandemic. Total SARS-Cov-2 antibody tests were
performed to all patients. Results: A total of 15 patients were
included. All patients had a high social exposure before the pandemic. 2
patients had direct contact with positive COVID-19 patients. Both
experienced mild symptoms that could be attributed to the disease, but
neither of them had a positive serological test. Most patients followed
asthma treatment correctly before and during the pandemic. 13 patients
referred good asthma control. Most patients continued monthly monoclonal
antibody administration. Serological tests were negative for all
patients. Conclusion: Severe asthma pediatric patients in treatment with
MAB, do not have an increased susceptibility for being infected by the
virus, but in the case that they contracted the disease, evidence says
they would have shown very weak symptoms.