Allergic respiratory disease care in the COVID-19 era: A EUFOREA statement
Scadding Glenis K., Peter W. Hellings, C. Bachert, Leif Bjermer, Zuzana Diamant, Philippe Gevaert, Anette Drøhse Kjeldsen, Jörg Kleine‐Tebbe, Ludger Klimek, Antonella Muraro, Graham Roberts, A. Steinsvik, Martin Wagenmann, Ulrich Wahn
Abstract
Spring and Summer 2020 are unique in that the challenges of care for those suffering from pollen allergy coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic. Several considerations are important to allow optimal care of allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma and hence prevention of coronavirus spread through sneezing, rhinorrhoea, and coughing. This compact overview of recommendations by the EUFOREA expert teams on allergic airway diseases and allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is based on investigation of the current COVID-19 literature in association with the key words above and shared clinical experience of the experts involved. It deals with similarities and differences between AR and coronavirus infection, specific recommendations for allergic disease care in the COVID-19 era, including guidance on AIT.