Allergic Rhinitis
Similar to patients with asthma, the medical treatment of patients with
allergic rhinitis should continue.6,7 No evidence put
this category of patients at risk of severe complication; during a
COVID-19 infection, not controlled allergic rhinitis in an individual
with uncontrolled allergic rhinitis may increase the spread of
diasease.6,7 As restrictive measures get eased
allergic rhinitis patients if symptomatic may be prevented from
accessing health care facilities, school, camp, and work as COVID-19
symptoms may overlap with allergic rhinitis and prescreening of
symptomatic patients will be widely implemented.6,7Under red-zone circumstances, allergic rhinitis should be evaluated via
telemedicine or telephone instead of in person. Evaluation for allergy
can be postponed during red-zone/phase 1 restrictions. Performing skin
testing or in vitro serum specific IgE testing to inhalants may be
appropriate as countries go to yellow, orange zones if the risk of
acquiring COVID-19 in health care facilities is low and adequate PPE
protections are available to healthcare providers for the close contacts
required to perform skin test.6,7
Allergen immunotherapy can be considered the following recommendation
outlined before l.16