What are the recommendations for patients suffering from
allergic rhinitis during the COVID-19 pandemic?
There is no scientific evidence that treatments for allergic rhinitis
either increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection or the severity
of COVID-19. Therefore, allergen avoidance measures, nasal saline
douches, and background controller therapies recommended by current
guidelines for allergic rhinitis, such as nasal corticosteroids or
second-generation H1-blockers, should be continued as prescribed, both
in non-infected and COVID-19 diagnosed
patients.108,116 Such treatments can help reduce the
spreading of an eventual SARS-CoV-2 infection by targeting
characteristic clinical features of allergic rhinitis, such as sneezing
and rhinorrhea, and might prevent unnecessary visits to physicians and
emergency departments. Specific recommendations apply to patients with
allergic rhinitis treated with AIT or biologics. These therapies should
be suspended in COVID-19 diagnosed patients or suspected cases for
SARS-CoV-2 infection until resolution of the disease is established
(e.g. via a negative SARS-CoV-2 test in connection with clinical
recovery).108,118