How can an asthma exacerbation be differentiated from a
SARS-CoV-2 infection?
An asthma exacerbation is difficult to differentiate from COVID-19 ARDS
or pneumonia by the patient, especially if it is triggered by
rhinovirus, or other common respiratory viruses, because both conditions
have dry cough and dyspnea. The British Thoracic Society advises
patients with asthma experiencing fever, fatigue and loss of taste or
smell to alert their physician as these are indicative of
COVID-19.128 The distinction can be made by the
physician based on the presence of wheeze, which is generally (but not
always) absent in COVID-19 pneumonia, as well as high-resolution chest
tomography and viral diagnostic tests.108