COVID-19 and Asthma: What comments we need to know?

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory respiratory disease more common in children. Microbial agents such as viruses are a common trigger of asthma. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic disease that could lead to the exacerbation of allergic disorders such as asthma. The aim of this study is to write a narrative review of COVID-19 and asthma condition. METHODS: We searched in Google scholar, PubMed, and Scopus databases with keywords COVID-19, asthma, corticosteroid, and inhaled steroids. RESULTS: We found a few original articles on the combined subject of asthma and COVID-19. More than 50% of our data is expert comments at valid websites such as https://www.AAAAI.org or https://ginasthma.org. The typical treatment recommended in the exacerbation of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) included the use of corticosteroids. The routine use of corticosteroids in patients with COVID-19 without obstructive lung disease is not advised, as it may prolong viral replication. CONCLUSION: Patients with asthma need to continue on their preventive asthma medication, such as inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in pandemic COVID-19.