An important message for people with asthma throughout the Covid-19 pandemic has been to continue using their medication as prescribed. This applies particularly to ICS use.

Early on in the pandemic there were mixed views on whether steroids should be used, but there is now a consensus supporting their continued use in asthma.

In its Covid-19 advice, Asthma UK prioritises the daily use of preventer inhalers as prescribed to help cut the risk of an asthma attack being triggered by any respiratory virus. Reliever inhalers should be carried in case any asthma symptoms start to flare up.15

NICE issued a ‘Covid-19 rapid guideline’ for severe asthma. It advises: “Tell all patients, or their parent or carer, to continue taking their regular medicines in line with their personalised asthma action plan. This includes those with Covid€‘19, or suspected of having it. This is because it’s important that they make sure their asthma is as stable as possible. Ensure their action plan is up to date.”3