Coronavirus: The hidden illness that makes this woman, 23, vulnerable – Mirror Online

Britons have been urged to stay indoors to stop the spread of coronavirus, which so far, has mostly affected elderly people and those with underlying health conditions.

Those in their twenties and thirties may not feel the need to stay inside - unless they've just found themslves on the 'at risk' list.

Amy Seggar, 23, is in that very situation and says she's worried about catching the virus.

Amy was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) just four months ago in November and, though she's otherwise healthy, it has put her in an uncertain position.

It is only her second 'flu season' since diagnosis and she is not sure how a new virus will affect her.

She said: "I was told a few days ago that I wasn't in the at risk group because I didn't have respiratory issues or diabetes, but then to hear in the press conference on Monday that people with neurological conditions were included in the 'vulnerable' group made me feel a lot more concerned.

"The MS Society website changed on that same day to advise that it's especially important for us to isolate, which made me question how vulnerable I was going to be if I came into contact with the illness."

Luckily, Amy's young age puts her at less risk of serious complications if she were to catch coronavirus, but the very nature of having MS means that the illness could knock her sideways - more so than for others her age.

But coronavirus, far from only being a contagion-concern for Amy, is also affecting her MS treatment as it has had to be cancelled because it's an immunosuppressant.

This means the medication she takes to help her makes her immune system weaker and therefore less able to fight the virus, which cannot be treated with antibiotics.

"I was due to start an intravenous immunosuppressant treatment but have now been offered a less effective treatment, in tablet form instead," she said.

Intravenous treatment for MS has similar effects on the body to chemotherapy, which is why Amy's treatment has had to be cancelled, because it would leave her at even greater risk of contracting the virus.

She says that current advice suggests she now won't be able to get the treatment she needs until the end of summer.

So far, Amy has been managing her condition by making sure that she can keep busy around the home studying for her Masters, which she does via distance learning, running her online business and looking after her pet rabbits.

But even her business, which is still in it's infancy, is now at risk because Amy isn't sure how long it will be until she can send orders out again.

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She said: "My business is taking a backseat as I have to send items out via the Post Office, which is no longer viable. I only set up my business last year and I'm concerned about how long these effects of self-isolation will last.

"My orders have dropped to around half and I'm no longer able to offer shipping abroad, as I can't guarantee if or when they'll be delivered. I think there are a lot of people self-employed and social distancing that are stressed about finances."

Fortunately, Amy will be able to keep herself busy by focusing on her studies so she says that will be her main source of distraction while self-isolating.

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Coronavirus: The hidden illness that makes this woman, 23, vulnerable - Mirror Online