Posted by ImproveCareNow™ on April 08, 2020
image credit: NIAID-RML
Many IBD patients and their families are concerned about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the impact it may have on their lives, their care and their wellbeing. Please note: IBD patients and families seeking specific information about the novel coronavirus and their medical care are advised to communicate directly with their care team. While ImproveCareNow is not in the business of providing direct medical advice, we are in the business of connecting people, learning together and sharing information seamlessly. We'd like to share some information that may be useful to you:
Reliable sources of information about coronavirus
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children - United States, February 12 - April 2, 2020
- School Settings | COVID-19 - Schools and Childcare Programs
- School Decision-Making Tool for Parents, Caregivers and Guardians
Child Mind Institute
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation (CCF)
- Video: COVID-19 and Pediatric Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (NEW)
- What IBD patients should know about the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
World Health Organization (WHO)
International Organization for the study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOBD)
* Please refer to this list often, as we will add new sources as they become available and as we verify them.
Other coronavirus-related efforts happening in the IBD community
- SECURE-IBD Registry: Surveillance Epidemiology of Coronavirus Under Research Exclusion (SECURE)-IBD is a secure, online, de-identified Personal Health Identifier (PHI)-free reporting registry where IBD clinicians worldwide are encouraged to report ALL cases of COVID-19 in their IBD patients, regardless of severity. With the collaboration of our entire IBD community, we will rapidly be able to define the impact of COVID-19 on patients with IBD and how factors such as age, comorbidities, and IBD treatments impact COVID outcomes. Learn more >>
Limiting the impact of coronavirus
The novel coronavirus has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. We cannot eliminate the spread of this virus, but we can do things to slow it down and reduce its impact. The idea is that if we are able to slow infection rates, our healthcare system may be better able to respond and provide services to those who need them. We can all act to slow down the spread by practicing what is known as “social distancing” – limiting our contact with people, avoiding public places, and leaving home only when truly necessary. Remember that as an IBD patient, you may be more susceptible to infection and illness, making it especially important to follow the social distancing guidelines and practice frequent and proper hand-washing (for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water).
Staying connected during social distancing
The goal of “social distancing” is to reduce physical contact with others as much as possible, not to socially isolate ourselves. In fact, we’re fortunate to live in the age of the internet because it means we can stay connected and support one another without needing to be together in person! So, remember to call your friends & family, schedule a group video chat in place of that dinner out you were supposed to have, check in on each other and share your experiences so we are all reminded that we’re not alone – we are in this together 💚💙 Let others know they're not alone! Share your story on LOOP >>
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Patient (14+) can connect with each other through the Patient Advisory Council >>
Parents can connect with each other through the Parent Working Group >>
Editors note: Updated to add new resources on April 8, 2020 and September 10, 2020. Updated in June 2022 to remove resources that are no longer available.