A case report of coronavirus disease‐2019‐induced acute asthma exacerbation in an obese patient

Abstract

Abstract The coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) has spread worldwide. Previous studies indicated a low prevalence of COVID‐19 induced acute exacerbations of asthma. We present a 39‐year‐old‐male obese asthmatic case who experienced acute asthma exacerbation during COVID‐19. On day 8 of infection, his cough and dyspnea worsened with hypoxia and wheezing. Laboratory test results revealed elevated interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels without eosinophilia. Two months since the onset, hypoxia disappeared with decreased IL‐6 and IgE levels. Our case suggested that obesity and high serum IL‐6 and IgE levels may have contributed to atypical asthma exacerbation in COVID‐19.

Keywords

• asthma
• COVID‐19
• immunoglobulin E
• interleukin‐6
• obesity