CASE REPORT
A case of influenza A and COVID-19 co-infection in a patient with severe asthma: Similarities and differences between the two viruses
 
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1
2nd Pulmonary Medicine Department, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital, Haidari, Greece
 
2
4th Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital, Haidari, Greece
 
 
Publication date: 2021-08-31
 
 
Corresponding author
Ioannis Tomos   

"University Hospital "Attikon", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, 1 Rimini Street, 12462, Haidari, Greece
 
 
Pneumon 2020;33(4):1-5
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
A novel coronavirus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), resulting in an acute respiratory illness has been recently emerged to a pandemic. COVID-19 pandemic developed in a season when influenza was prevalent. Influenza is well known to cause respiratory infection with other respiratory pathogens, however, limited data exists concerning COVID-19 and influenza co-infection. Both viruses seem to share transmission characteristics and clinical manifestations. Asthma, on the other hand, a chronic inflammatory condition involving the airways seems to be a risk factor for severe COVID-19 illness. It is important for pulmonologists to be aware of such potential co-infections in order to be able to early recognize them and prevent disease progression and death. We report the case of a patient with severe asthma, receiving biologic treatment, with a history of a recent travel abroad, who presented co-infection of influenza A and SARS-COV-2, reviewing as well the literature concerning the similarities and differences between the two viruses.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
None.
FUNDING
The authors declare no funding sources.
 
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ISSN:1105-848X
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