Some doctors believe blue and purple toe lesions could be an early sign of the coronavirus, based on anecdotal evidence
Photo: ValuaVitaly/Getty Images/iStockphoto As the medical community scrambles to understand the various ways that COVID-19 infections manifests in the body, new possible symptoms continue to emerge. Last month it was widely reported that anosmia — a loss of smell — could point to a coronavirus infection, even if no other symptoms were detected.
So far, the presumption of “COVID toes” is based on anecdotal evidence. The symptom presents as purple or blue lesions on a patient’s feet and toes. Ebbing Lautenbach, chief of infectious disease at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine, told USA Today that these lesions are “typically painful to touch and could have a hot burning sensation.”
Some doctors think “COVID toes” could be an early sign of infection, appearing in patients who are exhibiting no other symptoms. Lautenbach said, “This is a manifestation that occurs early on in the disease, meaning you have this first, then you progress.” Sometimes the condition goes away in fewer than ten days, he added, and sometimes it’s followed by other symptoms.
Though Lautenbach says “nobody knows” what causes “COVID toes,” the doctor suggested two possible explanations: that the lesions are an inflammatory response to the virus, or that they could be caused by blood clots, which sometimes occur in COVID-19 patients. Esther Freeman, a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, suggested the same explanations to Today, adding that “it could be a bit of both.
Amy Paller, a dermatologist at Northwestern Medicine, told NBC 5 Chicago, “We don’t know for sure if it’s related to COVID-19, but when it’s so common right now during a pandemic and is occurring in otherwise asymptomatic or mildly affected patients, it seems too much of a coincidence not to be a manifestation of the virus for patients in their teens and 20s.” Paller added that a few patients who appeared to have the condition have tested negative for the coronavirus.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
What are 'COVID toes'? Doctors discover symptom of coronavirus mostly seen in kidsDoctors say what's most interesting about 'COVID toes' is that it seems to appear in coronavirus patients who don’t exhibit any symptoms.
Read more »
How Greece Avoided the Worst of the Coronavirus PandemicGreece Has an Elderly Population and a Fragile Economy. How Has It Escaped the Worst of the Coronavirus So Far?
Read more »
FBI sees cybercrime reports increase fourfold during COVID-19 outbreakCybercrime has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more »
Coronavirus economic updates: Personal info of nearly 8,000 small business loans applicants exposed on SBA websiteJUST IN: The personal information of nearly 8,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan applicants was potentially exposed to other applicants on the SBA's website, the Small Business Administration confirms.
Read more »
Life Is Beautiful Festival Canceled Due To Concerns Over COVID-19Life is Beautiful festival in Las Vegas canceled due to concerns over COVID-19.
Read more »