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Boston [US], Nov. 1 (ANI): A new analysis suggests that some COVID-19 patients have persistent skin-related symptoms long after recovering from the initial infection.
The findings, presented at the 29th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), point to another burden experienced by so-called “long-haul carriers” that improve but do not appear to fully recover. of COVID-19.
For the analysis, the researchers established an international registry of COVID-19 skin manifestations in April 2020, in collaboration with the International League of Dermatological Societies and the American Academy of Dermatology.
Doctors were contacted in June and August to update COVID-19 laboratory test results and the duration of patients’ COVID-19 skin symptoms. The team defined long-haul carriers as anyone with COVID-19 skin symptoms that persisted for at least 60 days.
The team evaluated nearly 1,000 cases of patients with skin manifestations of COVID-19. Among the total of 224 suspected cases and 90 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 from 39 countries with information on the duration of symptoms, the median duration of symptoms was 12 days.
Morbilliform and rash-like urticarial eruptions lasted a median of seven days and four days, respectively, for patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, with a maximum duration of 28 days. Papulosquamous eruptions, which are scaly papules and plaques, lasted a median of 20 days in laboratory-confirmed cases, and a confirmed long-lasting eruption lasted 70 days.
Pernio / chilblains, or redness and swelling of the feet and hands, commonly known as “COVID toes,” lasted a median of 15 days in suspected COVID-19 patients and 10 days in laboratory-confirmed cases . Notably, six patients with pernio / chilblains were long carriers with finger symptoms lasting at least 60 days, and two laboratory confirmed patients with COVID fingers lasting more than 130 days.
“Our findings reveal a previously unreported subset of patients with long-term skin symptoms from COVID-19, particularly those with COVID on the toes. These data add to our knowledge of the long-term effects of COVID-19. In different organ systems, the skin is potentially a visible window to inflammation that could be occurring in the body, “said lead author Esther E. Freeman, MD, PhD, director of Global Health Dermatology at MGH.
“We encourage physicians caring for COVID-19 patients to inquire and evaluate any skin symptoms. Healthcare providers can enter information into our registry to better understand the dermatological effects of COVID-19,” Freeman added. (AND ME)
