Ask the allergist is a regular feature in our newsletters where Dr. Julia Upton answers your questions!
Dr. Julia Upton is a Canadian allergist who is on staff at Toronto’s SickKids Hospital in the Immunology and Allergy Department. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto and is the Section Chair of Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis with the CSACI. Dr. Upton is also a member of our Healthcare Advisory Board.
Please note: Dr. Upton is answering as an individual allergist and her answers do not constitute an official position of her affiliated organizations. Her responses are for informational purposes only and do not constitute specific medical advice, recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Please talk to your doctor about any concerns or questions you may have regarding your own health or the health of your child.
In this month’s article, she’s covering another question about COVID-19.
Is someone with a food allergy more susceptible to COVID-19 than others?
People with food allergy have so far not been shown to be at increased risk for getting COVID-19. If someone has asthma and they get the infection, there is a risk that it can be more severe.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website has more detailed information about who may be at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Everyone should follow the current public health advice for physical distancing to reduce the risk of infection or spreading infection to others. For up-to-date Canadian information on COVID-19, visit the Government of Canada website.
For more information on COVID-19 and food allergy, check out our COVID-19 and food allergy section which includes FAQs from the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
For information on COVID-19 and asthma, see the health recommendations on the Asthma Canada website.
Tags: ask the allergist, covid-19, dr upton