College and Allergy in Difficult Times

“Those of you who are already diagnosed with allergy should remember the previous treatment or update it with your family doctor, pediatrician or allergist and those of you who for the first time start with mild symptoms as described should go to your family doctor or pediatrician to assess whether to put treatment or need referral to an allergist.”

The closed schools and empty classrooms are behind us; the school year has begun with a new partner.

Let’s understand well; “you can be a carrier”, when the germ passes through you and interacts with your body what it does is try to invade us and take advantage of the machinery of our cells to reproduce; our immune system defends itself in two ways, recognizing the virus and manufacturing its own weapons that specifically attack the virus (we are talking about Ig G and Ig M) or by innate immunity through cells that destroy viruses. In some cases, the virus “tricks” our immune system and stays there.

Thanks to the measures we have been taught, we will try to minimize the risk of contagion, but let us not fool ourselves, the threat of a new pandemic is there.

There are still many unknowns about the intruder; although it seems that we have a certainty and that is that it is transmitted through the small droplets that we expel in aerosol when we talk, cough or sneeze and can sometimes reach up to 4-5 meters away.

It is essential to implement the use of masks as long as there are new cases of declared disease. If used correctly, it will prevent both contagion and spread. The virus needs an organism to be able to replicate, if it does not find one it will eventually disappear.

Children with food, skin, drug or respiratory allergies, etc., if they are controlled, are not at greater risk of contracting the disease. Special caution in uncontrolled patients; a patient with uncontrolled bronchial asthma leads to poor ventilation and an increased risk of over-infection by viruses and bacteria. On the other hand, if we add another infectious and inflammatory respiratory disease to a patient limited by respiratory fatigue, there is no need to explain what is going to happen.

In times of catarrhal processes, where both doctors and patients are under the influence of suggestion, differential diagnosis becomes more difficult. Who does not suspect having been close to someone who has been close to someone with the virus; if we add to this that all these symptoms; cough, fatigue, tiredness, headache, conjunctivitis… are common to both pathologies, we will have to be even finer when it comes to assessing and preventing.

How does the mask affect allergic patients?

Generally speaking, also in allergic patients it serves to protect; it prevents allergens (substances with the capacity to produce an immunological response in the organism) from coming into contact with the mucous membranes and target organs (nasal cavities and respiratory tract). On the other hand, it can prevent airway desiccation, which is part of the pathophysiology of asthma.

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In patients with uncontrolled asthma it is not feasible for them to wear the mask, but it is also not feasible for them to go to class with cough and fatigue.

Recommendations and advice to follow

It bothers us all to wear the mask; do not look for excuses; putting a barrier to the virus is a matter of all.

In open places; keep a safe distance; if it is not possible, use the mask.

If you are going to stay in a room it is necessary to ventilate; it should be mandatory to use the mask in closed places when ventilation is not possible or it is not possible to maintain the safety distance.

Considering that the virus could skip the mask or that someone could let it out by not wearing it or wearing it on the chin, or on the forehead, or on the wrist, or with the nose out… hygiene and cleanliness of hands when we touch something is fundamental; I do not say the manic and repetitive cleaning that will lead us to dermatitis on the hands.

If you start with symptoms such as cough, fever, loss of smell or taste, you should isolate yourself and notify via telephone. Let’s be prudent and think about other children and especially our elders.