Covid-19

[DawnA]

I’m not overly concerned, but am wondering how much of an increased risk Celiac patients have for Covid-19. 
 

Thank you. 

Edited March 11, 2020 by DawnA
Typo

[GFinDC]

This research suggests there may not be an increased risk of infections.  At least that's how I read it.  It's not specific to covid-19.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5802675/

 

[Fenrir]

I think the possible issue for celiacs is that people with uncontrolled celiac disease could be at a high risk of complications with the corona virus. The reason is these sort of things tend to cause more severe issues for people with pre-existing health conditions. So if you are already sick from celiac disease and get Corona Virus it may increase the chances you have a more severe case. Your body is not in optimal condition to fight off a virus if you're still having active reactions due to celiac disease. 

That said, if you feel fine and are eating gluten-free I don't see where you'd be at any higher risk of complications. 

Also, the other problem is that many Celiacs have other health issues, including other Autoimmune disease. Anyone with health issues is going to be at a higher risk. 

One thing that has come out about Corona Virus is that people with high blood pressure have a higher death rate when infected. So, if you have high blood pressure try to be extra careful.

[Ennis-TX]

As mentioned  if your immune system is actively fighting gluten having to fight a war on two fronts would make it worse.
IF gluten free I would theorize our immune systems would be stronger then most peoples I deal with my immune system attacking my body and allergies very often but last time I got the flu it only last a few days when everyone else was down over a week. I just worry that my immune system might overreact and not calm down leading to complications but this is a unfounded concern that I can not find any studies on.
Now if your smoke or vape...then covid has a much higher chance of killing you.

[Fenrir]

9 minutes ago, Ennis_TX said:

As mentioned  if your immune system is actively fighting gluten having to fight a war on two fronts would make it worse.
IF gluten free I would theorize our immune systems would be stronger then most peoples I deal with my immune system attacking my body and allergies very often but last time I got the flu it only last a few days when everyone else was down over a week. I just worry that my immune system might overreact and not calm down leading to complications but this is a unfounded concern that I can not find any studies on.
Now if your smoke or vape...then covid has a much higher chance of killing you.

I've only been sick two times that weren't from gluten (cold or anything) since I went gluten-free 6 years ago. I think there's something to Celiacs having strong immune systems when we're not eating gluten. No proof, just an opinion.

[notme]

i agree with Fenrir, in the past 10 years I've been gluten free, I have not been sick with *anything* except one sinus infection that I had to get antibiotics for.  allllll the flu, colds, pneumonia (!) that I used to get all the time, everybody else gets sick, I do not.  even the flu last year that laid up my super tough husband - notme!  lolz

Edited March 11, 2020 by notme!
edited to add in the last 10 years

[LJR1989]

I found this website that seems to indicate people with celiac are not immunocompromised and are not at higher risk for covid-19. Our immune systems are over-reactive in response to gluten (reacting when it shouldn't), but we do not have suppressed immune systems.  It makes some sense to me. Celiac alone doesn't put you at risk, but other medical conditions/auto immune diseases relating to celiac could put you at a higher risk for co-vid.

https://www.beyondceliac.org/coronavirus/

 

 

[Fenrir]

2 minutes ago, LJR1989 said:

I found this website that seems to indicate people with celiac are not immunocompromised and are not at higher risk for covid-19. Our immune systems are over-reactive in response to gluten (reacting when it shouldn't), but we do not have suppressed immune systems.  It makes some sense to me. Celiac alone doesn't put you at risk, but other medical conditions/auto immune diseases relating to celiac could put you at a higher risk for co-vid.

https://www.beyondceliac.org/coronavirus/

 

 

I would argue those with uncontrolled celiac disease would be at a risk due to the weakened general health. But for those of us on a strict gluten-free diet it shouldn't be anymore of a problem than it would be for anyone else. 

Main concern is the elderly, death rate is 15% for elderly which is much higher than the flu. 

[Scott Adams]

There is solid evidence that indicates that celiacs are at higher risk for pneumonia, and since this is the way covid-19 seems to be killing people, it certainly makes me wonder if this means that celiacs who get covid-19 might be more prone to end up in the ~20% of those who have worse outcomes:

 

 

 

 

 

[Posterboy]

DawnA et Al,

Scott has given you good links/resources.....but I found some other's that might help you too.

Generally if you don't have issue's with your Albumin level's then the risk is only moderately more...but if your Albumin levels are low....respiratory problems will likely be more common and severe....I had twice yearly bronchitis and going gluten free after a year or so got rid of my regular bi-annual bronchitis.....but I also had low albumin levels and the doctor's didn't know this gave me a higher risk for breathing problems....my severe malnutrition from my undiagnosed celiac disease was causing my albumin level's to be low....not well understood or studied....it is called a "Celiac Crisis" and is typically diagnosed in the year or two before your Celiac diagnosis....here is the research about it...but most Celiac's risk for respiratory go down fairly quickly after going gluten free....because the trigger for inflammation has been removed....

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2900539/

https://healthfully.com/albumin-levels-in-cirrhosis-4573081.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016344531200388X

I hope this is helpful but it is not medical advise.

Posterboy,

[cristiana]

From the British Coeliac UK website.

https://www.coeliac.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/news/coeliac-disease-and-coronavirus-covid-19/

I would think if it is easy to do so, it would be worth getting this vaccination.

Things are just taking off here in the way they did in Italy a month ago.   

[CottenCandyDream]

As someone who gets frequent sinus infections and just had pneumonia last month I am very concern about getting this. Plus I've been to several different doctors in just one week because of my swallowing problems. 

[cristiana]

12 hours ago, CottenCandyDream said:

As someone who gets frequent sinus infections and just had pneumonia last month I am very concern about getting this. Plus I've been to several different doctors in just one week because of my swallowing problems. 

I can't really offer much advice as I've got no qualifications to do so but I just wanted to say hi.   Are you in an area which has been badly hit by this yet?

I've had to visit a dentists twice and a surgeon in a hospital setting recently.  One practitioner wasn't wearing a mask and was coughing away during my consultation.. ?  I felt sure I would have contracted it in one of those visits but thankfully don't think I have...

Are you self-isolating?

 

 

[cyclinglady]

18 hours ago, CottenCandyDream said:

As someone who gets frequent sinus infections and just had pneumonia last month I am very concern about getting this. Plus I've been to several different doctors in just one week because of my swallowing problems. 

Because you have recent health issues besides celiac disease, I would not risk going out for food.  Please quarantine yourself.  Ask a family member or friend to shop for you or consider Insta-cart which my elderly parents are using.  For health issues that are non life-threatening, consult your doctor via tele-med or email.  

Why take chances?  Stay safe!  ?

[CottenCandyDream]

7 hours ago, cristiana said:

I can't really offer much advice as I've got no qualifications to do so but I just wanted to say hi.   Are you in an area which has been badly hit by this yet?

I've had to visit a dentists twice and a surgeon in a hospital setting recently.  One practitioner wasn't wearing a mask and was coughing away during my consultation.. ?  I felt sure I would have contracted it in one of those visits but thankfully don't think I have...

Are you self-isolating?

Ooh that sucks, the asthma person I went to the other day wasn't wearing a mask but she wasn't coughing.  No I'm not self isolating unfortunately have to go out and get food because my grandmother is a lot worse off than I am right now. 

[Fenrir]

If you have asthma, definitely be careful. The risk of major complications is very high for that group. 

[Makoa23]

I work in a nursing home (in activites not as a cna or nurse)  and was just recently diagnosed with Celiacs in the past few months. My doctor (who is probably swamped with calls) still hasn't contacted me back regardless of how many times I call to see if I should be taking myself out of work. I have had asthma since I was a kid and my Celiacs is not under control yet. My job is telling me I have to have Covid symptoms or be pulled from work by a doctor. With all of this Im worried I should be self isolating including from work. Ive read a lot of articles that suggest celiac patients have increased risk of pneumonia. 

[cristiana]

6 hours ago, Makoa23 said:

I work in a nursing home (in activites not as a cna or nurse)  and was just recently diagnosed with Celiacs in the past few months. My doctor (who is probably swamped with calls) still hasn't contacted me back regardless of how many times I call to see if I should be taking myself out of work. I have had asthma since I was a kid and my Celiacs is not under control yet. My job is telling me I have to have Covid symptoms or be pulled from work by a doctor. With all of this Im worried I should be self isolating including from work. Ive read a lot of articles that suggest celiac patients have increased risk of pneumonia. 

Hi Makoa23

From the UK there is this info for asthma sufferers that might help:

https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/

I would have thought that asthma alone could be an important consideration for you, but in case it helps, here also is a link just posted on the Coeliac UK website:

https://www.coeliac.org.uk/information-and-support/coronavirus-information-hub/dr-peter-gillet-gives-his-view-on-your-key-questions/

I was sent an email from Coeliac UK a few days back saying that because some coeliacs are hyposplenic without being aware of it we should all err on the side of caution and practise social-distancing.  However things have moved on since because Britain is now on lockdown apart from key workers.  Frustratingly I cannot find any advice regarding how the healthcare sector is handling the issue of key workers who are coeliacs.  I don't know any coeliacs in the healthcare sector to ask.  

It does sound as if speaking to your doctor is the important thing, from what you say.  I really hope you manage to get in touch soon.

Take good care

Cristiana 

 

[Beverage]

I have severe asthma and I react really badly to steroids, so far, the albuterol inhaler is my only option.  I have been prescribed chloroquinine as a preventative. 

 

[cyclinglady]

1 hour ago, Beverage said:

I have severe asthma and I react really badly to steroids, so far, the albuterol inhaler is my only option.  I have been prescribed chloroquinine as a preventative. 

 

Your doctor prescribed chloroquine as a preventative for asthma or COVID-19?  

[Beverage]

5 minutes ago, cyclinglady said:

Your doctor prescribed chloroquine as a preventative for asthma or COVID-19?  

For covid19

[cyclinglady]

1 hour ago, Beverage said:

For covid19

Thanks.  ?

[Makoa23]

On 4/1/2020 at 12:50 PM, cristiana said:

Hi Makoa23

From the UK there is this info for asthma sufferers that might help:

https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/

I would have thought that asthma alone could be an important consideration for you, but in case it helps, here also is a link just posted on the Coeliac UK website:

https://www.coeliac.org.uk/information-and-support/coronavirus-information-hub/dr-peter-gillet-gives-his-view-on-your-key-questions/

I was sent an email from Coeliac UK a few days back saying that because some coeliacs are hyposplenic without being aware of it we should all err on the side of caution and practise social-distancing.  However things have moved on since because Britain is now on lockdown apart from key workers.  Frustratingly I cannot find any advice regarding how the healthcare sector is handling the issue of key workers who are coeliacs.  I don't know any coeliacs in the healthcare sector to ask.  

It does sound as if speaking to your doctor is the important thing, from what you say.  I really hope you manage to get in touch soon.

Take good care

Cristiana 

 

Thank you for the information! I live in the U.S currently but they provided plenty of insight. Things have since progressed at my work place. Unfortunately there have been a number of local cases and due to coming into contact with one positive case (regardless of ppe being worn) my doctor provided me with a 2 week note for my job and instructed me to self isolate to monitor myself. My doctor is taking my underlying conditions very seriously during all of this so I am glad for that. My job has told us in the past week that they would not be "accepting doctors notes, only notes from the Department of Health and other qualified government entities able to issue mandatory quarantine orders." So as of right now I have decided to place my health over that of a corporations need for expendable employees and remain home regardless of the possible denial. I hope everyone else out there can stay safe in whatever way available.  

[cristiana]

9 hours ago, Makoa23 said:

Thank you for the information! I live in the U.S currently but they provided plenty of insight. Things have since progressed at my work place. Unfortunately there have been a number of local cases and due to coming into contact with one positive case (regardless of ppe being worn) my doctor provided me with a 2 week note for my job and instructed me to self isolate to monitor myself. My doctor is taking my underlying conditions very seriously during all of this so I am glad for that. My job has told us in the past week that they would not be "accepting doctors notes, only notes from the Department of Health and other qualified government entities able to issue mandatory quarantine orders." So as of right now I have decided to place my health over that of a corporations need for expendable employees and remain home regardless of the possible denial. I hope everyone else out there can stay safe in whatever way available.  

There are a lot of grey areas at the moment but I think in your shoes I'd do the same.  One of the most testing times for us as a family was that half the family went to North Italy skiing mid part of Feb, returning just days before news of the big outbreak there hit the screens.  Even the national health helpline didn't have advice for returning travellers for a while, as they waited for advice from the government, so we were all scrambling about in the dark trying to make the right judgment call.  With the luxury of hindsight I think it would have been good if at that point we had been told, "Been to Italy?  Stay home for a fortnight, however well you feel".   Instead the advice was given only isolate if you start to feel unwell, which probably contained it to some extent but then what about the asymptomatic cases? Hopefully we are all learning valuable lessons should this sort of thing happen again.

Take good care.  

Cristiana