This post follows up on Part 1 in this series.
Some people with Ulcerative Colitis may be at greater risk associated with COVID-19, Crohn’s and Colitis organizations around the world suggest. The chart on the left, issued by the Crohn’s and Colitis Canada shows the risks of COVID-19 associated with age, inflammation severity, and commonly prescribed medication for IBD.
If you or a loved one with UC find themselves in the medium- or high-risk category, you might want to consider the following precautions:
- Delivery safety. If someone delivers to you groceries and essentials, ask them to leave the items at your front door and give them a nod of appreciation from 6 ft. away. Pay and tip by card whenever possible.
- Sanitize everything that is brought into the home. Amazon boxes, handbags, work bags, grocery bags, boxes with pasta – wipe them all with a clean cloth dampened with bleach solution (2TBS bleach per 1 Quart or Liter of water). Wash any produce very thoroughly and preferably cook it at some heat to kill any virus.
- Think about who is walking the dog in your household. if you are high-risk, delegate dog walking to a family member.
- Think carefully about pets. Pets are our go-betweens in the household. We touch them, kiss them, touch their food bowls and that may present risks. If you are at a high-risk and are self-isolating in a separate room, consider excluding your pets from your room, especially if they need to be walked.
- Enjoy fresh air through an open window or wear a mask to step out. Fresh air is safest from the window of your home or from your balcony or porch. If you MUST take a walk, make it short around your house. Wear a mask to protect yourself. Here is how to make a mask.
- Avoid a flare at all costs. Ease it if you have one. For some UC patients, a flare can mean a course of steroids like prednisone/prednisolone. Although much remains to be learned about COVID-19 and Ulcerative Colitis, The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation writes here: “If you are taking steroids (prednisone/prednisolone) for any reason, be sure to take extra precautions by following the CDC’s recommendations for risk reduction and talk to your healthcare provider, because steroids can suppress your immune system [emphasis added].”