Get To Know The Full List Of Coronavirus Underlying Conditions

Many of those who succumbed to the coronavirus infection in the UK are above sixty years old, most of them having underlying health conditions. To date, 1,543 in the UK have tested positive for COVID-19 infection.

Health experts, however, say that this is what is on record, but the actual number may be much higher. On Monday, as the UK death toll rose to 55, Mr. Boris Johnson announced new measures to be implemented by the government in the fight against coronavirus in the UK.

New Measures

The new measures, which were introduced by the Prime Minister, included discussions on how to provide the elderly and vulnerable with protection. Mr. Johnson said the government needs to make some drastic action as the country enters into a phase that he calls the fast-growth part of the upward curve. He said that those with extremely serious health conditions must be prevented from having social contact for at least three months.

The Prime Minister then revealed the underlying health conditions that can seriously complicate a coronavirus infection. Mr. Johnson said these health conditions were identified by experts after seriously studying all the cases of coronavirus infection in the UK and in other countries.

The Underlying Health Conditions

UK’s chief medical adviser, Professor Chris Whitty, said his team was able to identify those who are considered at extreme risk if they catch COVID-19 infection. He said such patients could suffer life-threatening complications if ever they got the infection.

Whitty then said such a group should take the extra effort in reducing their social contact. These included those above 70 years of age and adults who are usually advised to have flu vaccines, as well as pregnant women.

People at Risk of Coronavirus Complications

Those aged 70 years old and above, irrespective of any medical conditions. People below 70 years old but have underlying health conditions such as chronic respiratory diseases like asthma, COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, or emphysema.

The under-70-years-old group considered at risk also includes those suffering from chronic heart disease like heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and chronic liver disease like hepatitis. This group also includes those with chronic neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, a learning disability, or motor neuron disease.

Even if you are under 70 years old but suffer from diabetes, are taking steroid tablets or undergoing chemotherapy, you can also suffer complications due to COVID-19 infection. The same goes if you have spleen problems like having a sickle cell disease or if your spleen had been removed.

If you are seriously overweight, like having a BMI of 40 or higher, you can also develop complications arising from a coronavirus infection, even if below 70 years old. Pregnant women have also been included in the list of those who may suffer from COVID-19 complications.

People at Greater Risk of Severe Illness

There are also groups of people who are at an even bigger risk of suffering from severe illness due to a COVID-19 infection. People in this category include those that have received an organ transplant and currently on an immunosuppression medication and those with cancer presently having active chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment.

Patients suffering from cancers of the blood or bone marrow like leukemia regardless of the treatment stage are at a higher risk of developing severe illness due to COVID-19 infection. The same goes for persons suffering from severe chest conditions like severe asthma or cystic fibrosis, those that require hospitalization or administration of steroid tablets.

Those suffering from severe diseases of the body system, like severe kidney disease, which requires dialysis, are also at greater risk of developing serious complications due to coronavirus infection. If you belong to any of these categories, you need to avoid any social contact for at least three months to protect yourself from getting infected by COVID-19.