Most people are at greater risk of catching the fluwhich is still widespread in the U.S. Up to 45 million people in the U.S. are estimated to have caught the flu, which may have killed up to 46,000 already and the flu season is not over.
Most people are at greater risk of catching the fluwhich is still widespread in the U.S. Up to 45 million people in the U.S. are estimated to have caught the flu, which may have killed up to 46,000 already and the flu season is not over.
Bahahaha! as if I am ever low!hmmm... wine?!? Anyone stocking up?
We're trying not to panic and to be honest, if my daughter were not due to travel I don't think I'd so worried. But she is supposed to see a researcher to get put on an experimental arthritis drug which would require a 4 hour flight. We are now trying to figure out whether to postpone the trip (and then inflammation levels will remain high) or to go and hope for the best.Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading expert on infectious diseases, is widely respected for his ability to explain science without talking down to his audience — and lately, for managing to correct the president’s pronouncements without saying he is wrong.
President Trump said that drug companies would make a coronavirus vaccine ready “soon.” Dr. Fauci has repeatedly stepped up after the president to the lectern during televised briefings or at White House round tables to amend that timetable, giving a more accurate estimate of at least a year or 18 months...
On Sunday, Dr. Fauci appeared on at least two television news shows, warning that as the virus spread — there were more than 450 cases in at least 33 states — some stricter measures to isolate the infected might be considered. He also offered advice for older adults and those with underlying health conditions who are most at risk, saying they should avoid cruises, flights and large gatherings of people.
I agree with pdx - generally I would not panic, but I know that there are rapidly rising numbers of confirmed cases of the virus in New York and schools in the area all seem to be closing to try and limit its spread. And of course, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of info on immunosuppressed teens/young adults. I think it also probably depends on the meds too - our GI said that biologics like Entyvio and Stelara are lower risk than anti-TNFs (one of my daughter's biologics is an anti-TNF).I feel exactly like you; my tendency is never towards panic, and I know that this virus has not been hitting young people very hard. But I still worry about E with her immune suppression, and I can't find much about how COVID-19 is affecting young immune suppressed people. We asked her doctor if she should stop methotrexate for a while, and her doctor said no, and just forwarded us the guidelines about washing hands, etc. Not especially reassuring... I'm also worried about my parents and inlaws, since they are all in their 70's.
Wanted to add - my daughter's specialists said the same thing, except they did not gave a % for her risk of complications, just said it was significantly higher. So hearing that it's 10-15% makes me feel better (although I know that depends on the kiddo and meds, but CIC, I will sleep a bit easier after hearing that!! And I think I better follow Tesscorm's lead and stock up on wine too, while I'm at it!!).Wanted to add that O's GI said her risk of getting Covid - 19 is the same as the general public but that her risk of complications is about 10-15% higher given her extended steroid use and ongoing inflammation.
We are trying. It's especially difficult because she has high inflammatory markers, obvious swelling, low grade fevers (now going up to 100.7F) and severe pain, and she already has two replaced joints....we don't want to have to replace any more. So preventing joint damage and getting the pain under control is really important...but still trying to figure out how to get it for her without traveling.Oh Maya--you are really stuck between a rock and a hard place. I'm so sorry. Is there no way for her to get put on the new drug without the in person visit?
The risk of COVID-19 exposure from flying within the US is still pretty low (unless you are flying to a real hotspot like Seattle). And IMO the current level of risk is likely to get worse before it gets better. Thus, if it were me I'd take the flight to get the experimental arthritis drug now while the risk is still low. As the exposure risk gets higher, there is no telling how long it's going to be for the risk to drop back down to current levels or lower.We're trying not to panic and to be honest, if my daughter were not due to travel I don't think I'd so worried. But she is supposed to see a researcher to get put on an experimental arthritis drug which would require a 4 hour flight. We are now trying to figure out whether to postpone the trip (and then inflammation levels will remain high) or to go and hope for the best.
I've cancelled/rescheduled my derm appointment, will check with my urologist tomorrow to see if that visit should be rescheduled.....watching the number of Covid cases very closely here, they seem to be slowing down but will need to check numbers for a few days to really see...Lisa - between me, my son and daughter, we've all had a number of dr cancellations, including S's upcoming GI follow-up. And, if an apptmt hasn't been cancelled, it's been changed to an e-appointment.
From link aboveIn particular, in a recent study by Qin C, et al.in which among 452 patients with COVID-19, most of them had increase of several inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1and IL-6 [3].
Further, higher serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e. TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6) were found in patients with severe COVID-19 as compared to the non-severe ones [3]. Additionally, in severe cases, a reduction of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and a decrease of regulatory T cells has been found, likely due to high expression of proinflammatory cytokines in COVID-19 patients [3].
However, so far, it remains unclear why SARS-CoV-2 may lead to variable cytokine modulation and different phenotypes of patients, maybe linked to both viral characteristics and host susceptibility.
FromThe Sinovac vaccine contains an inactivated version of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. By introducing an inactive virus into the body, the vaccine should prompt the immune system to build antibodies that target the pathogen without triggering an actual COVID-19 infection. When given to mice, rats and rhesus macaques, the vaccine sparked the production of such antibodies, according to the bioRxiv report.