COVID-19 is
a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus
called coronavirus.
The most
common symptoms of coronavirus are a fever (high temperature) and/or
dry cough, shortness of breath. You do not need to have all these symptoms to
be suffering from a coronavirus infection.
People with some pre-existing health conditions are more vulnerable
to severe illness (pneumonia, breathing difficulties requiring hospitalisation,
lung damage).
This
Frequently Asked Questions guide by the National University of Australia
provides up-to-date and accessible information about how the virus is passed
on, symptoms of infection and the risks of serious illness.
Guidance for people with viral hepatitis or other liver diseases
Hepatitis
Australia published guidance for people with viral hepatitis in consultation
with the Doherty Institute, University of New South Wales on 20 March 2020,
suggesting that people with viral hepatitis are not at increased risk of
illness unless they have advanced liver disease or underlying health conditions:
At this stage there is no evidence to
suggest people living with
hepatitis B or hepatitis C, who
are well are at greater risk of
infection with COVID-19.
However, current information suggests some people
living with hepatitis B and
hepatitis C who also have other
conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes will likely have an increased risk of serious illness if they
get COVID-19.
People who have
developed advanced liver
diseases (including cirrhosis) and deteriorating health as a result of hepatitis B or C should be vigilant in protecting themselves
from contracting COVID-19 as
they are at risk of more
serious illness. This includes people who have ongoing
health conditions as a result of a previous hepatitis C
infection which has been cured.
People living with hepatitis B or C
should use the same protective measures recommended for the general population.
At this stage there is no evidence to
suggest people living with
hepatitis B or hepatitis C, who
are well are at greater risk of
infection with COVID-19.
However, current information suggests some people
living with hepatitis B and
hepatitis C who also have other
conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes
will likely have an increased risk of serious illness if they
get COVID-19.
NHS England advises people with chronic liver disease to be
particularly stringent in following social distancing measures. NHS England
published a list of groups of people at increased risk of illness due to
underlying health conditions on 23 March 2020. The NHS England list of conditions
is more detailed than those published by some other countries (e.g. US Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention).
- aged 70 or older (regardless of medical
conditions)
- under 70 with an underlying health condition
listed below (ie anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on
medical grounds)
- chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such
as asthma, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
- chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
- chronic kidney disease
- chronic
liver disease, such as hepatitis
- chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease,
motor neurone
disease, multiple
sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
- diabetes
- problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell
disease or if you have had your spleen removed
- a weakened immune system as the result of
conditions such as HIV
and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
- being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI)
of 40 or above)
- those who are pregnant.
Guidance for liver transplant recipients and/or people receiving
immunosuppressive treatment
NHS England has identified several groups (24 March) receiving
immunosuppressive treatments as at high risk of serious illness from coronavirus
infection. These groups include the following potential liver disease patients:
- Solid organ transplant recipients
- People having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for
cancer
- People having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the
immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
- People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly
increase risk of infection.
NHS
England is contacting all patients at highest risk to advise strict social
isolation for at least 12 weeks.
Shielding
is a measure to protect extremely vulnerable people by minimising interaction
between those who are extremely vulnerable and others. This means that those
who are extremely vulnerable should not leave their homes, and within their
homes should minimise all non-essential contact with other members of their
household.