Eczema, Hayfever, Dermatitis

[Xtinalee]

Hi, I’ve been reading into why people in my age bracket could be dying from this virus and I read it could either be in your genes or from an over reactive immune system (which causes eczema, allergies etc) which can cause a cytokine storm and I’m terrified that I will suffer severely from this virus as I seem to get bed bound when I get ill from sickness bugs. Is there anyone who has had this virus with the above conditions and who also gets quite sick from flu or similar ?

I’ve never heard of this connection. Have you got a source?

I have the above conditions. Quite badly at times. I’ve never been one to get coughs , colds or bugs. I’ve had flu once in my life and it was awful but other than that I tend to be someone who can work right though viruses and bugs that the rest of my house are bed bound with.

Not sure if that was what you were asking but I’ve never felt my eczema / hay fever etc left me more vulnerable to illness.

I have raging hay fever at this time of year but I typically take only 2-3 days sick leave each year, and I an generally otherwise well. I don't usually feel more vulnerable to viral illness than most, I don't think?

If you google gene coronavirus and young people cytokine storm coronavirus there is plenty of different sources on there.

Are you possibly worrying yourself unnecessarily by mixing up unrelated things? If atopy (tendency to asthma, dermatitis, allergies) is a risk factor, that is not at all the same as getting sickness bugs badly.

@SparklingLime No it’s confusing because I read that allergies are an over reactive immune system and an over reactive immune system can cause people to be susceptible to being ill

www.bmj.com/content/321/7268/1061

Recent research suggests that allergies could be a side effect of protection against parasites and also that certain immune disease could be related to gene selection resulting from our ancestors surviving the great plague.

I wouldnt write yourself off yet, OP. There's a lot more to be discovered about why we have allergies, but it seems that we were selected to have them by surviving the unsurvivable. Who knows whether it will turn out that there is any protective gene against coronavirus, but don't assume that your allergies have you a goner. Could end up being precisely the opposite.

Thanks I’m just scared because I seem to catch all the bugs and end up bed bound for at least a week 😞 and reading that about people who have certain genes, allergies etc just scared me more

Op I was wondering exactly the same I have psoriasis and cant smell or taste due to dust or pollen unless I take 3 antihistamines a day.

We are not in the high risk group though so that's hopeful right?

Thanks to pp that said it could even be the opposite.

There was a thread that a boy in Europe who had psoriasis as his underlying condition so I am paranoid too.

There is talk about certain conditions having a higher risk of cytokine storm, but not eczema or dermatitis, they are talking about certain rheumatic diseases, lupus or leukemia.
I haven't seen hayfever or dermatitis mentioned anywhere.

Anyone know what kind of ‘genetic makeup’ people are talking about? I watched Dr Alex and he said genetic makeup could be a reason younger people with no underlying conditions are dying ... I’m not entirely sure what it means

Wouldn’t lupus etc come under an underlying condition?

“However, my sense is that even in severe eczema, the immune system is disordered but not actually compromised. In fact, we think of it as being an over-exuberant immune response rather than a compromised state. So just having eczema alone is probably not a significant risk factor for getting sick with or having a more severe case of COVID-19. ”
From nationaleczema.org/ate-covid-19/

Anecdotally I have all the issues you list & generally throw off colds easily, & have had a sickness bug twice in my life (so far!)

You’re going to drive yourself into more and more anxiety by trying to make links and conflating things that are not linked. Truly, stop reading this stuff and trying to work it all out. Reading medical journal papers if you don’t have the contextual knowledge means it’s so easy to make 2+2=5. I know, I’ve done it with other health issues.

Try going back to the basics of what you can control: hand-washing, looking after your well-being: are you able to use an app such as headspace? I’m doing some focussed breathing each day... www.facebook.com/1830798057199234/posts/2613436422268723?d=n&sfns=mo

I have a mast cell disorder which causes allergies- and is considered an over reaction of the immune system. This does put me at more risk of a cytokine storm. I don't think low level consistent/controlled allergies are likely to be so high risk.

I just want to know why it’s killing younger people. I’m just scared therfore trying to research as much as I can

Very many of the younger people affected are quite overweight (placing extra pressure on lungs and cardiovascular system) or have significant underlying conditions e.g. leukaemia.

I've got psoriasis so have also been reading up on cytokine storms (scary stuff). Plus I'm very overweight. Any stress and my psoriasis flares up immediately - the itching is unbearable!!!

We've just got to try to keep stress levels low (breathing exercises, good sleep, watch our diet, etc.).

I read that it’s severely effecting the ‘fit and healthy’ with ‘no underlying conditions’ I Just hoping with all I have that I don’t catch it, I wouldn’t like to find out the effects. 😞

It's also worth bearing in mind that when they say no underlying conditions, all that actually means is that none had previously been diagnosed – that doesn't necessarily mean they didn't have them.

That’s true but that can’t be the case with everyone surely

It is still a hugely small percentage of the population.

Calming yourself down will help your immune system hugely.

Take good precautions and look after your health, then chill and enjoy this life as much as you can - none of us are here for ever!