Inflammatory Bowel Disease | Royal United Hospitals Bath

Gastroenterology

Find out th erisk level in the UK, what to do if you're a returning traveller, and what the government is doing about the virus.

Immunosuppressive medicine for Crohn's and Colitis includes azathioprine, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, cyclosporin, infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, ustekinumab, prednisolone, budesonide, vedolizumab and tofacitinib. Visit our treatments pages for information about these medicines and how they may affect you.
People taking immunosuppressants for their Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis are not at increased risk of catching novel coronavirus, however they may be at extra risk of complications from the virus if they are infected.
People on immunosuppressants should seek advice by telephone if they develop symptoms of either seasonal Influenza or novel coronavirus.

For the majority of people, you will be advised to continue with your immunosuppressive treatment.
This treatment does not increase the risk of being infected with coronavirus. You should take precautions to avoid infection through good personal hygiene and avoiding unnecessary close contact with people who are unwell, as outlined in the Coronavirus Common Questions
If you stop taking your immunosuppressive medicine, you may have a flare which will increase your risk of complications if infected with coronavirus.
If you still have concerns about continuing your medication, you should speak to the medical team caring for you.
If you are at an increased risk of infection, for example, if you've been in direct contact with an infected individual, have travelled to a high infectivity area, or have another serious comorbidity that increases your risk further, you should seek advice from your medical team by telephone before making any changes to your medication.