We have compiled the most important questions and answers for you.
- As a rheumatism patient, am I at increased risk of developing a severe form of COVID-19?
In principle, people with autoimmune diseases and under immunosuppressive therapy are considered to be at increased risk of infection. So far, however, there is no experience or figures on the increased incidence of severe courses of COVID-19 in rheumatism patients.
- In view of the risk of infection with the new coronavirus, should I interrupt my rheumatism therapy to support my immune system?
No. Immunosuppressive drugs do affect the body's defences, but this is necessary so that the immune system does not attack its own body and trigger inflammation. If this therapy is suspended arbitrarily, the rheumatic disease can flare up again, and it must then be treated with high doses of medication that inhibit the immune system even more. For this reason, the German Society for Rheumatology, the Rheumatism League and the Robert Koch Institute expressly advise against interrupting rheumatism therapy for fear of COVID-19.
It is different if you have an infection, possibly with a fever. This may be a reason to pause immunosuppression after consulting your doctor.
- How can I protect myself from the new Corona virus?
The most important protective measures in everyday life are avoiding contact ("social distancing") and observing strict hygiene rules.
Frequent, thorough hand washing for 20-30 seconds is recommended: Hold hands under running water and then thoroughly soap palms, backs of hands, fingertips, interdigits and thumbs. Use disposable towels when travelling and a towel for each family member at home. If there is no wash basin nearby, disinfectants marked "limited virucidal", "limited virucidal PLUS" or "virucidal" can be used.
Reduce contact with other people outside your own household to an absolute minimum. Maintain the recommended minimum distance of 1.5 - 2 m to other people. If possible, wear a mouth-and-nose protector when you move outside the home, it can also be a simple self-stitched one, and make sure that people close to you do the same. These everyday masks do not provide perfect protection, but help to reduce the risk of droplet infection. If possible, do not sneeze into your hand, but into a handkerchief or the crook of your arm. Do not shake hands or touch your face. Avoid crowds, including on public transport. Strengthen your immune system with a vitamin-rich and varied diet and plenty of exercise.
- What should I do if I have signs of infection or fear that I have caught it?
The clinical signs of COVID-19 disease are mainly fever, dry cough, breathing difficulties and very often odour and taste disorders. The new corona virus can also cause sore throat, muscle pain or diarrhoea.
If you have had contact with an infected person or have cold symptoms yourself, you should implement the rules for domestic isolation according to the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute (Further information under this service link of the RKI.) and contact us. Please do not come to the practice under these conditions, but contact us exclusively by mail or telephone so that we can discuss further measures.
We do not test for SARS-CoV-2 here!!!
It is organised via the family doctor or via Arztruf Hamburg (tel. 116117).
- Can I safely come to the Medizinicum for rheumatological check-ups and examinations for other problems?
Since the beginning of February, we at MEDIZINICUM have been implementing extensive measures to protect our patients and our employees from infections with SARS-CoV-2. Among other things, all patients are screened before entering the waiting areas with regard to the risk of infection.
We have constantly adapted our hygiene and protection measures to the requirements. Our employees are well trained. We only work with mouth-nose protectors and if required, we have a simple mouth-nose protector available for you. We do not treat patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection in our practice. All in all, we have successfully optimised our procedures and our premises in such a way that the risk of infection can be largely ruled out in our practice.
- Are there any special considerations with regard to the workplace?
If you are unable to carry out your professional tasks from home, appropriate precautions must be taken at the workplace to protect you. We will be happy to certify that you are receiving immunosuppressive therapy and therefore belong to a risk group. With this, you can then report to your employer's occupational health service or directly to your employer and ask for appropriate precautions to be taken with regard to work organisation or protective devices at the workplace. If you would like more detailed and more in-depth information, we recommend the pages of the Rheumatism League, the pages of the German Society for Rheumatology and the site of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
