Asthma patients hard hit during Coronavirus era.
HARARE, Zimbabwe.(News of the South)- Ministry of Healthcare noted that the outbreak of the coronavirus in December 2019 and its subsequent spread across the world has shown it affects people with underlying conditions a lot more including asthma.
By Karen Mhlanga
Zimbabwean asthma, allergy and immunology specialist, Professor Elpoy Sibanda who owns the Asthma, Allergy and Immunology Clinic in Harare answered some pertinent questions that can help people with asthma.
Professor Sibanda ruled out the notion that there is likely to be an increase in asthma cases.
“We do not expect an increase in those allergic to asthma during this period,” the professor assured the people.
He went on to talk about how Covid-19 and asthma have similar symptoms which might lead to people mistaking the two.
“The Us Center for Disease Control (update 25 June 2020) list moderate to severe asthma as a condition that might put patients at increased risk of severe illness from Covid-19,” said the professor.
Professor Sibanda advised asthma patients to consistently take medication, practice social distancing and putting on personal protection equipment (PPE) such as masks.
Asthma statistics for Zimbabwe in the first half of 2020 stood at 1 346, a drop of 1 194 for a similar period in 2019 which was at 2 540.
This drop could have been due to the lockdown which took effect from 30 March 2020.
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