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Corona Virus Press Release
Wuhan University, Departments of Allergology, Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and Radiology published together with the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) the clinical characteristics of 140 patients infected by Wuhan Corona Virus (COVID-19) (here). The article appeared online today in Allergy, the official Journal of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. As of today, globally, 75,204 cases were confirmed, including 74,280 cases in China and 924 cases outside of China. 2006 patients have died from now officially named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus -2 infection.
The study reports randomly selected and community acquired 140 hospitalized COVID-19 cases. Male female ratio was 1:1 and median age was 57. None of the cases were related to Huanan wet market of wild animals. They were diagnosed by PCR test for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus -2 (SARS-CoV-2). Main symptoms at admission were fever (91.7%), cough (75.0%), fatigue (75.0%), gastrointestinal symptoms (39.6%) and chest tightness or dyspnea (36.7%).
Hypertension (30.0%) and diabetes mellitus (12.1%) were the most common comorbidities. Since many of the severe virus infections take place in asthma and COPD patients, investigation of asthma, allergies and COPD were specifically focused. Interestingly, asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, food allergy were not reported by any of the patients and COPD was only in 1.4 % of the patients. Asthma prevalence is 4.2 %, allergic rhinitis is 9.7 % and COPD is 13.7 % in the same age group in China, suggesting that Coronavirus pneumonia is not specifically selecting these patients. In addition, active smokers were only 1.4% of the COVID-19 cases which is the habit of 27.3 % of the individuals in China.
As a rapid diagnosis criteria before virus-specific tests are finalized, which may suggest immediate isolation of the patients, lymphopenia (75.4%) and eosinopenia (52.9%) were observed in patients. 58 of the 140 patients (41.4%) were severely affected in their lungs. Severe cases were elder patients, with more comorbidities, and with higher levels of acute phase reactants, CRP, procalcitonin and D-Dimer.
Editor in Chief of Allergy, Prof. Dr. Cezmi Akdis the Director of the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) comments that this study reports the cases as detailed and as up to date as possible, which will be helpful to isolate the patients early enough to avoid the dissemination of the epidemics. Sharing detailed patient information as fast as possible with the public and scientific community will certainly help to inform the doctors to be prepared for early and rapid diagnosis of the suspected cases, taking the measures for patient isolation and identification of the severe cases.
The authors acknowledge all of the healthcare professionals, who helped and took care of the patients with COVID-19 for their great effort and their selfless dedication in the medical operation against SARS-CoV-2.
Cezmi Akdis
akdisac@siaf.uzh.ch
Editor in Chief of Allergy, Prof. Dr. Cezmi Akdis the Director of the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF) comments that this study reports the cases as detailed and as up to date as possible, which will be helpful to isolate the patients early enough to avoid the dissemination of the epidemics. Sharing detailed patient information as fast as possible with the public and scientific community will certainly help to inform the doctors to be prepared for early and rapid diagnosis of the suspected cases, taking the measures for patient isolation and identification of the severe cases.
The authors acknowledge all of the healthcare professionals, who helped and took care of the patients with COVID-19 for their great effort and their selfless dedication in the medical operation against SARS-CoV-2.
Cezmi Akdis
akdisac@siaf.uzh.ch
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Junior Members Corner
EAACI JMs come from all corners of the globe, and have been making significant contributions to the field of allergy. Read about some of their accolades here!
Collaboration between Allergy and JMA: "Groundbreaking Discoveries in Immunology"
The JMA has been collaborating with the journal Allergy, especially since Dr. Cezmi Akdis became Editor-in-Chief. This partnership has yielded a new section for Allergy: "Groundbreaking Discoveries in Immunology”. The aim is to discuss novel concepts in immunology (published in top-tier journals) through original and creative pieces. One issue will be published every month including a graphical abstract created by Dr. Anna Globinska (Graphics Editor of Allergy).
The JMA will welcome other JMs to join this initiative, applying themselves as authors, recommending articles of interest or suggesting improvements. Dr. Rodrigo Jiménez-Saiz (JM Representative of the Immunology Section) is the author of the first issue, published last month, focusing on the alternative pathway (IgG-neutrophil-mediated) of drug-induced anaphylaxis in humans (here).
We hope that this section will be of interest to the Allergy audience, particularly for JMs, and we would like to invite all of you to stay tuned for the latest updates.
The JMA will welcome other JMs to join this initiative, applying themselves as authors, recommending articles of interest or suggesting improvements. Dr. Rodrigo Jiménez-Saiz (JM Representative of the Immunology Section) is the author of the first issue, published last month, focusing on the alternative pathway (IgG-neutrophil-mediated) of drug-induced anaphylaxis in humans (here).
We hope that this section will be of interest to the Allergy audience, particularly for JMs, and we would like to invite all of you to stay tuned for the latest updates.
Image: JMA and Marek Jutel, EAACI President, at the 2019 EAACI Congress in Lisbon
New Year? New News!
The ongoing collaboration between EAACI Junior Members and ERS (European Respiratory Society) Early Career Members has yielded a relevant Allergy publication: “The need for clean air: The way air pollution and climate change affect allergic rhinitis and asthma”.
It explains the correlation between air pollution and climate change. In addition, it discusses the implementation of allergic rhinitis and/or asthma and points out the policy adjustments and lifestyle changes necessary to mitigate their deleterious effects.
Aiming to read more and more articles like this, we invite you to enhance the collaboration between Junior Members and different scientific societies. You can read this article here.
It explains the correlation between air pollution and climate change. In addition, it discusses the implementation of allergic rhinitis and/or asthma and points out the policy adjustments and lifestyle changes necessary to mitigate their deleterious effects.
Aiming to read more and more articles like this, we invite you to enhance the collaboration between Junior Members and different scientific societies. You can read this article here.
