There is no clear connection so far between autoimmunity and COVID-19.  Autoimmunity is different from immunodeficiency (in which the immune system is too weak to fight off infections). If anything, autoimmunity makes the immune system relatively over-active, often causing it to attack the body. That doesn’t mean an autoimmune patient is necessarily better at fighting infections. An over-active immune system could help fight off the virus, but it also could cause unneeded inflammation.

In most cases, it is better to stay on your medications to avoid a flare of your autoimmune disease. You should contact your doctor if you have concerns and before you make any changes in your medications.

We do not have a lot of information about immunosuppressants specifically in relation to COVID-19. But we do know that prednisone, in particular, is a major risk factor for many other infections — especially if your total daily dose exceeds 20 milligrams. This is true for all the “systemic steroids” (the ones that get into the blood and spread throughout the body), but not really a concern for steroids that are locally delivered. These local steroids include steroid skin creams (for rashes), steroid inhalers (for asthma), budesonide pills like Entocort or Uceris, and steroid suppositories or enemas for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 

Because taking Prednisone or other systemic steroids for months makes your body critically dependent upon them, you cannot rapidly stop them or you will get quite sick. If you have been taking Prednisone for more than a month, you should ask your doctor for specific instructions if you need to taper off the medication rather than try to just go “cold turkey” on your own.  

Other medications, such as methotrexate, azathioprine, mercaptopurine, and a class of drugs known as JAK inhibitors do suppress your body’s ability to fight viruses, and might make viral infections longer and more severe — but the effect is more modest than with steroids.

The new "biologic" drugs (recombinant proteins that require a shot or IV) are much more targeted and show different effects on infection. We know that anti-TNF agents (including infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab, golimumab and certolizumab , which are sold under the brand names Remicade, Inflectra, Renflexis, Enbrel, Humira, Simponi and Cimzia) increase the annual risk of a serious infection by about 1%, including influenza, a virus with similar symptoms to COVID-19. However, the impact of each type of biologic on COVID-19 may differ. In fact, one biologic drug (tocilizumab, which is sold as Actemra) is actually being studied as a treatment for severe cases of COVID-19.  

There are a variety of reasons someone might have a compromised immune system. Here’s what we know.

As stated above, certain drugs used to treat autoimmunity and chronic inflammatory conditions can compromise the immune system. There are also diseases like HIV and inborn immunodeficiencies (common variable immunodeficiency, severe combined immunodeficiency) that can severely compromise the immune system. Conventional cancer chemotherapy and radiation severely impair the immune system, especially if someone recently had a stem cell transplant. Likewise, the anti-rejection drugs used to treat people with solid organ transplants severely compromise the immune system.  

More commonly, old age makes the immune system comparatively weak, but this varies a lot from person to person, so there is not a specific age when risk suddenly shoots up. We just know that older people are more vulnerable to infections in general and COVID-19 specifically.  

Pregnancy is also thought of as an immunosuppressed state. That’s because a mother's immune system has to be tamped down so it accepts the father’s genes, which are in the baby and might be interpreted as being foreign agents that need to be attacked. However, at this point we do not know if pregnant women are at higher risk for COVID-19. A study done in China showed a good outcome for women infected in their last trimester, but this was a small study and does not address the impact of COVID-19 at earlier stages of pregnancy. As is always the case in pregnancy, we recommend being conservative and taking precautions to avoid contact with infected people.

Hydroxychloroquine is a medication that rheumatologists prescribe to treat a number of autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus). There have been many claims that this medication could help with COVID-19 and many people are asking doctors for hydroxychloroquine prescriptions, which is leading to shortages for people who need it for a longstanding health issue.

We are currently awaiting more information regarding hydroxychloroquine’s safety and utility in treating patients with severe COVID-19 infection. We have no definitive evidence at this time that this medication has any effect in preventing COVID-19 infection. People who are taking this medication for a disease such as RA or lupus should continue using the medication. They should not share it with others or change the amount that they are taking. 

Since this is such a new virus, we do not have information on how it impacts people with autoimmune disease. BRI’s team is currently planning research on this and we will know more in the coming weeks and months as physicians and scientists around the world collect data. We are all working toward the goal of understanding how to predict who is at highest risk and how to protect them.

That depends on why you need to see your doctor. Many clinics are offering remote services like telehealth for routine visits. That said, your doctor may want to see you in person, particularly if you have a new or very active health problem.

At this time when hospitals and physicians are busy with the care of COVID-19 patients, it makes sense to contact your clinic in advance to find out if they recommend that you come to your appointment or if they could postpone it or make it virtual.

The answer to this seems to change by the day and it’s important to listen to your local officials. You should retain social distance when you leave your home and to make sure you clean your hands after touching objects that may have been handled by other people. This is important not only for your health but also for the sake of everyone in our society. Our goal is to limit the spread of the infection and we all have a role in doing that.

The CDC is recommending a 30-day supply of self-administered drugs. We are still advising that people who must get their medication administered by a facility (like IV meds) come in on-schedule for each dose (unless they feel symptoms of COVID-19). Some insurance plans allow home infusions as an alternative to infusions in a facility, but it is unclear if this increases or decreases infection risk, as traveling infusion nurses and their equipment visit many households, some of which may be much higher risk than an infusion center.  

Anyone who is  entering and exiting your house on a regular basis must practice good protective hygiene:

• Wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water when they arrive at your home
• Stay six feet away from others in public
• Use a barrier (like an antibacterial wipe) to touch common surfaces like door and sink handle
• Avoid touching their own faces

Likewise, anyone in your home with a fever and/or other COVID-19 symptoms should be isolated as much as possible.  As shopping in actual stores has largely been replaced with mail-order, it is also not a bad idea to wash hands after retrieving and opening mail. 

Most products that claim to “strengthen the immune system” do no such thing (particularly those promoted by unregulated, for-profit vitamin manufacturers), but you can certainly avoid things that would weaken it. Staying up late and getting too little sleep, or having a very erratic sleep schedule, makes the immune system weaker. Try to get to bed and wake up regularly, sleeping at night and being awake in daylight.

If you smoke, quit now. Smoking might weaken the immune system but definitely weakens the lungs, and is a clear risk factor for death in COVID-19. Similarly, marijuana use, especially smoked, is probably not helpful. Other illicit drugs and alcohol may or may not impair immunity, but they definitely impair judgement, and given how careful we now need to be, being impaired may itself be a bigger risk factor for COVID-19 than anything involving the immune system. 

Jogging or walking alone has generally not been forbidden, but you certainly should keep your distance from others and stay inside if you are sick or unusually vulnerable. If you have a home with stairs, consider putting things you use regularly on different floor to force you to walk up and down many times a day. Floor exercises (sit-ups, push-ups etc.) are something that require no equipment, just willpower. A lot of exercise videos on streaming platforms have replaced group workouts and can be followed at home.  Track your exercise in a journal to see if you can make improvements. 

If you live in a complex with a shared gym, do NOT use it. Gym equipment surfaces are high risk for contamination.

Probably even more important than exercise is to avoid using food as entertainment. People eat when they’re bored, which means they gain weight. Weight gain has been associated with diabetes, and diabetes is another clear risk factor for severe effects in COVID-19. If you have diet-controlled diabetes or have been told that you have “metabolic syndrome,” you should be particularly vigilant about what you eat while in isolation. 

Part of the challenge is that fresh fruits and vegetables do not last, so our diets may move more towards carbohydrates and preserved or frozen foods, since we’re not going to grocery stores as often. Frozen vegetables, while not as great (or great-tasting) as fresh, are better than no vegetables, so stock up on these if you have the freezer space, and make them a central part of your meals. Avoid snacking between meals. If that’s too hard, try to snack on a plant. Carrots, apples, pickles, and dried fruits keep a long time without freezing, and are convenient to snack on without any prep time. What you do not want to do is open a bag of chips or a tub of ice cream in front of the TV. Before you know it, you will have eaten the whole container.  

Also, be careful with alcohol and other inebriants as a solution to boredom. It surprisingly easy to hurt your liver with alcohol when it is consumed on a daily basis for an extended period of time. If you were a weekend drinker before the pandemic, do not start treating every day as a weekend just because you are no longer going to work in person. 

Finally, maintain your psychological health. Try to stick to old patterns. If you used to set your alarm to go to work, keep doing it — don’t sleep in just because you can. Keep showering and grooming even though nobody new is going to see you. Get dressed every day, maybe even in your usual work clothes. 

If you are telecommuting, do it while sitting in a dedicated work space that won’t hurt your body. Maintain a consistent work schedule, with a specific time for lunch. Work a normal length day, if you can.  If it is allowed and you are well, take a walk, a bike ride or a drive at least once a day.  

Category:  Living With A DiseaseTags:  COVID-19, Coronavirus, Novel Coronavirus, autoimmune disease

April 2, 2020

By: Corinn Cross, MD, FAAP

To help contain COVID-19, many schools are moving children to online learning at home. In addition, many parents are being asked to work from home. These forms of social distancing are needed to help slow the spread of the virus and prevent overloading the health care system.

But many families now face new challenges: how do we care for our children while working and schooling at home, and not panic during this unprecedented outbreak? The first step: take a deep breath. Know that we are all in this together. And together we will get through it. 

Here are some other tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics to help you cope with this “new normal" until the virus is under control.

It may be tempting to get kids together for play dates or sleepovers, but this should be avoided. Social distancing only works if we all participate. And slowing down or preventing the spread of the virus will save lives.

Protect grandparents. This is also not the time to visit grandparents or ask them to help out with child care duties. People who are over age 60 are at higher risk of severe illness with COVID-19 and should not increase that risk by being around children who may be ill with mild symptoms. However, they may feel alone or disconnected during social distancing, so keep up communications through phone calls, texting, or video chats.

Since changes in routine can be stressful, it will be helpful to talk with your kids about why they are staying home and what your daily structure will be during this time. Let them help create a daily schedule that can hang on the refrigerator or somewhere they can see it each day. Be sure to include breaks from tele-work or schoolwork to relax and connect with each other.

Here are some ideas to help you create a daily schedule:

• Wake up, get dressed and have breakfast at the normal time.
• Decide where everyone can do their work most effectively and without distractions.
• List the times for learning, exercise and breaks.
  • For younger children, 20 minutes of class assignments followed by 10 minutes of physical activity might work well.
  • Older children and teens may be able to focus on assignments for longer stretches, taking breaks between subjects.
  • Include your hours as well, so your children know when the work day is done.
• Schedule time for nutritious lunches and snacks. Many schools are providing take-home school meal packages for students who need them.
• Don't forget afternoon breaks as well!
• Have dinner together as a family and discuss the day.
• Enjoy more family time in the evenings, playing, reading, watching a movie or exercising together.
• Stick with normal bedtime routines as much as possible during the week to make sure everyone gets enough sleep.

Try not to have the news on all day. It is best not to have the news on while kids are in the room as it can increase their fear and anxiety (and yours!). If they do listen to the news, talk together about what they are hearing and correct any misinformation or rumors you may hear.

While limits are still important, it's understandable that under these stressful circumstances, kids' screen media use will likely increase. Here are some ways to help keep media use positive and helpful:

• Contact teachers about educational online and offline activities your children should do. Preschool teachers may not have an online curriculum to share, but good options include PBS Kids, which is sending out a daily newsletter with show and activity ideas.
• Use social media for good. Check in with your neighbors, friends and loved ones. If schools are closed, find out if there are ways to help students who need meals or internet access for at-home learning.
• Use media for social connection. Social distancing can be isolating. If your kids are missing their school friends or other family, try video chats or social media to stay in touch.
• Choose quality content and use trusted sources to find it. Common Sense Media, for example, suggests 25 dance​​ games and other active apps, websites, and video games​ for families hunkering down right now.
• Use media together. This is a great opportunity to monitor what your older children are seeing online and follow what your children are learning. Even watching a family movie together can help everyone relax while you appreciate the storytelling and meaning that movies can bring.
• Take your child (virtually) to work. Working from home? Use this time as a chance to show your kids a part of your world. Encouraging imaginative “work" play may be a way to apply “take your child to work day" without ever leaving home!
• Limits are still important. As always, technology use should not push out time needed for needed sleep, physical activity, reading, or family connection. Make a plan about how much time kids can play video games online with friends, and where their devices will charge at night.

Staying at home and other social distancing recommendations may feel like an inconvenience, but it's the best way right now to protect our family, friends, and neighbors who may be vulnerable.

If anyone in your home starts showing symptoms of COVID-19, call your doctor to discuss what to do.

• Parenting in a Pandemic: Tips to Keep the Calm at Home
• ​​2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Social Distancing: Why Keeping Your Distance Helps Keep Others Safe
  
• Age-Based Tips to Help Juggle Parenting & Working at Home During COVID-19​
  

Corinn Cross, MD FAAP, is an American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) spokesperson, an active member the academy's Council on Communications and Media, a Member-At-Large of her local California AAP Chapter-2 and a pediatrician at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

​

Last Updated 5/7/2020Source American Academy of Pediatrics (Copyright © 2020)The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
 

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