A new study, published online last week in the Journal ofClinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, has found that certain steroids usedfor the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as allergies, asthma, andarthritis could increase the risk of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novelcoronavirus.

Certain types of steroids, such as glucocorticoids, suppressthe immune system, making people vulnerable to catch the virus.

Researchers explained that people who take glucocorticoidsmay also have severe illnesses if they are infected by the new coronavirusbecause the drugs suppress the bodys steroid response to the infection.

The journals editor-in-chief Dr. Paul Stewart of theUniversity of Leeds, England, and deputy editors Dr. Ursula Kaiser of Brighamand Womens Hospital in Boston and Dr. Raghavendra Mirmira of the University ofChicago conducted the study.

The researchers said, People with primary adrenalinsufficiency (Addisons disease) and secondary adrenal insufficiency occurringin hypopituitarism should also take extra precautions.

Patients should increase their oral glucocorticoid dose bytwice if they experience symptoms such as fever and persistent dry cough. Theyshould continue doing so until the fever subsides. If their condition worsens,they will require injectable glucocorticoids.

The authors wrote, People with diabetes who contractCOVID-19 also appear to be at risk of more severe illness than those withoutdiabetes.

Studies from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the coronavirusoutbreak, found that COVID-19 patients with hypertension and diabetes were atincreased risk of severe illness and death.

Dr. Stewart and his team wrote, In our professional lives,we have not witnessed a health care crisis of this magnitude and severity.

They also noted that scientists have learned how the novelcoronavirus enters the cells and how it spreads from person to person.

Some researchers have even found how the virus interactswith the endocrine system. The authors wrote, Endocrine-related targets are at theforefront of discovery science as we collectively tackle this pandemic.

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Certain Types of Steroids Could Increase the Risk of Coronavirus - Myhealthyclick

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