Does hay fever affect Corona ?

The symptoms associated with hay fever sometimes match those of Coronavirus. In a recent article published in the Financieel Dagblad (08-04-20), colleague Wielinga (ENT physician) describes why although the complaints are similar, there is also no connection between the two conditions.

An important difference rests on the mechanism of origin, also called pathophysiology, of the symptoms of hay fever on the one hand and the pathophysiology of Coronavirus on the other. These are substantially different. Because the onset of both diseases differs, the defense mechanism also differs between them. A simple analogy is the military. Whereas with a hay fever infection the Navy is needed to fight the enemy, against Coronavirus the Air Force and/or Army is needed. In short, even though the body is under attack, the defense differs obviously. Even though one can see from the outside that the body is "at war.

As far as we know, no research has shown that having hay fever is a risk factor for contracting the Corona virus. Also, the rumor that the drug that reduces hay fever symptoms, the so-called antihistamine, has a bad influence on health and increases the risk of getting sick with the Corona virus is unfounded. Hay fever sufferers are advised not to take more or less antihistamine than they normally do.