ProVen

What about people with asthma? This inflammatory and chronic disease of the bronchi affects more than 4 million people in France. The High Council places in its list the people with a chronic respiratory pathological ... What concerns only "severe chronic asthma" , specifies the general direction of Health.

“A priori, asthma in young people is not a risk factor. Only uncontrolled asthma or asthma that has turned into obstructive pulmonary disease, especially in the elderly, is a risk factor ” , explains Blaise Genton, chief physician at Unisanté, university center for general medicine and public health, in Lausanne. In a press release, the French Allergology Federation emphasizes that "asthma is not a risk factor for developing more severe forms (...) if it is well controlled, in particular by inhaled corticosteroids". The federation insists: you must continue to take this treatment if it is prescribed. This update comes after alerts from the Ministry of Health on the taking of drugs such as ibuprofen or certain corticosteroids, which may have created confusion. The federation also calls for "to properly assess the nature of the symptoms felt" because the coming months are conducive to rhinitis, conjunctivitis and asthma in allergic patients, because of the pollen.

Another question that comes up often: the case of pregnant women. The High Council of Public Health admits lack of data. As a precaution, he recommends applying "barrier" measures , especially during the last months of pregnancy. Because " as any infection in the last quarter, some symptoms - including fever or cough - can increase the risk of preterm delivery," says P r Philippe Deruelle, Manager of motherhood university hospitals of Strasbourg.

A study retracing the journey of nine pregnant women, hospitalized at the end of January in Wuhan with a Covid-19, does not however describe any severe form of the disease, and no deaths among mothers and their children. "Unlike the flu and other respiratory infections, which are responsible for more severe forms in pregnant women, the coronavirus gives rise to clinical signs identical to those reported by non-pregnant adult patients" , underlines Prof. Deruelle. . Another reassuring point of the Chinese study published in the journal The Lancet, there is no evidence of intrauterine transmission of the virus in women in late pregnancy.

Despite their advantages, whole starchy foods (rice, pasta, semolina, wholemeal bread ...) and pulses (lentils, chickpeas ...), rich in fiber and good for health, are not present enough in 'plate of the French, underlines Public Health France in a new campaign whose slogan is "Start by improving a dish that you already like".