'COVID toes' could be a new, rare symptom of coronavirus in young people
Doctors have identified another unusual symptom of the novel coronavirus: Purple or blue toes that look swollen and feel painful to the touch.
Dubbed "COVID toes" by dermatologists, experts say the lesions have been popping up in younger people 바카라 게임 웹사이트 sometimes as their first or only sign of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus.
바카라 게임 웹사이트It바카라 게임 웹사이트s not uncommon, when there바카라 게임 웹사이트s a viral process, to have skin manifestations,바카라 게임 웹사이트 explains , department chair of dermatology at Northwestern University and one of the first dermatologists to link the symptom to COVID-19. "This is not just in older children, although I바카라 게임 웹사이트m seeing it particularly between age 11 and college age."
Dr. Paller emphasizes that this is an 바카라 게임 웹사이트early observation,바카라 게임 웹사이트 meaning there바카라 게임 웹사이트s no conclusive research on the symptom and that evidence is purely anecdotal at this point.
And not everyone with the symptom has tested positive for the virus, so it바카라 게임 웹사이트s not totally clear how or whether these lesions are directly related to COVID-19.
바카라 게임 웹사이트Are we just catching it too late, and maybe in the first few days, in some individuals, there is active virus?바카라 게임 웹사이트 Dr. Paller said. 바카라 게임 웹사이트Or is it really a sign of [gradual recovery]? We really don바카라 게임 웹사이트t know that yet.바카라 게임 웹사이트
This isn바카라 게임 웹사이트t the first skin issue linked to COVID-19.
One small from March, compiled by dermatologists who worked with 88 coronavirus patients in Italy, found that 20% of those people had skin-related symptoms. The most common skin condition among these patients was a red, patchy rash.
바카라 게임 웹사이트We know that there바카라 게임 웹사이트s more of this, and we suspect it may be related to COVID-19,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Dr. Paller said, but more testing is necessary before any definitive link can be established.
Here바카라 게임 웹사이트s everything doctors know about COVID toes so far 바카라 게임 웹사이트 and what to do if this symptom arises.
What do COVID toes look like?
COVID toes look a lot like frostbite or pernio, an inflammatory skin condition that causes sores.
This leaves the area looking puffy and discolored, often red or purple, said Dr. Paller. Toes may also feel sensitive, itchy, or painful, and perhaps even like they바카라 게임 웹사이트re burning. As the symptom runs its course, the affected skin may start to crack and peel as it heals.
Lesions appear on the bottoms or tops of toes, and can also manifest on the fingers, although this is less common, explains , chief of infectious diseases at the University of Pennsylvania바카라 게임 웹사이트s Perelman School of Medicine.
What바카라 게임 웹사이트s more, patients often experience COVID toes without other telltale signs of the novel coronavirus, like a fever, dry cough, or shortness of breath.
바카라 게임 웹사이트Almost all of the individuals who are reporting [COVID toes] have no symptoms that we would relate to COVID-19, or very mild ones,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Dr. Paller explains.
Why might the novel coronavirus cause COVID toes?
It바카라 게임 웹사이트s a bit of a question mark right now, Dr. Lautenbach explains. But experts suspect the skin issue could be a result of both the body바카라 게임 웹사이트s natural inflammatory response to the virus or 바카라 게임 웹사이트blood clotting issues in people with COVID-19 infections,바카라 게임 웹사이트 he said.
Because COVID toes are more common in young people, that may serve as a clue.
바카라 게임 웹사이트We know that the immune response, in general, gets less robust as we get older,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Dr. Lautenbach explains.
In turn, COVID toes might be a sign of a 바카라 게임 웹사이트brisk immune response바카라 게임 웹사이트 to the virus, but more research is needed to know for sure.
Dermatologists suspect a similar link in COVID-19 patients who are developing skin rashes, though.
바카라 게임 웹사이트We don바카라 게임 웹사이트t understand exactly why, but many viruses that cause upper respiratory tract infections also causes rashes in the skin known as exanthems,바카라 게임 웹사이트 , director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, recently told Prevention.
바카라 게임 웹사이트Perhaps these are the result of our reacting the virus or the virus may have a direct effect on the skin itself.바카라 게임 웹사이트
What should you do if you think you have COVID toes?
The good news: COVID toes could be a sign that the body is on the mend.
바카라 게임 웹사이트We have very little information about whether there바카라 게임 웹사이트s any contagion with this disorder,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Dr. Paller explained. 바카라 게임 웹사이트We don바카라 게임 웹사이트t have strong evidence that there is active virus in those people.바카라 게임 웹사이트
Plus, the symptom will likely resolve itself.
바카라 게임 웹사이트They usually clear up, on average, after about seven to 10 days,바카라 게임 웹사이트 Dr. Lautenbach said.
If there's uncomfortable pain or swelling, Dr. Paller recommends nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory meds (NSAIDs), like Advil or Aleve. For itchiness, topical corticosteroids like Cortizone work well.
Because doctors don바카라 게임 웹사이트t know exactly when the lesions could be appearing during the disease바카라 게임 웹사이트s progression, it never hurts to get a second opinion from a dermatologist if OTC remedies aren바카라 게임 웹사이트t helping. Skin issues can be caused by various irritations 바카라 게임 웹사이트 and it바카라 게임 웹사이트s possible these patients may be dealing with something else entirely.
Dr. Paller also said it바카라 게임 웹사이트s crucial to talk to a doctor if any other symptoms of COVID-19 are present. From there, they should be able to guide you on the next best steps.
It바카라 게임 웹사이트s important to remember that COVID-19 is caused by a new virus, and there바카라 게임 웹사이트s a lot of experts don바카라 게임 웹사이트t know about it yet, including all of the ways it impacts the body. Dr. Lautenbach said that discovering some symptoms 바카라 게임 웹사이트 outside of respiratory issues and fever 바카라 게임 웹사이트 will take time.
바카라 게임 웹사이트As we learn more, as we see more patients, and as more [symptoms] get described, we learn about a variety of other things that seem to be related to the disease course,바카라 게임 웹사이트 he said. 바카라 게임 웹사이트This is just the latest in those examples.바카라 게임 웹사이트
