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

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.