Skin lesions in patients with COVID-19

At the moment, coronavirus infection is the most urgent problem on the planet. Despite the fact that scientists around the world are studying this issue on an ongoing basis, there are still more questions than answers for the public. For this reason, all responsibility passes to doctors. The data indicate that some dermatological manifestations are associated with coronavirus infection - this fact is of great interest to dermatologists and cosmetologists. Read more about skin lesions associated with coronavirus infection on the website estet-portal.com.

• Specific skin manifestations
• Periorbital present manifestations
• Other skin lesions in patients with COVID-19
• Conclusion

Specific skin lesions in coronavirus infection

In general, with coronavirus infection, non-specific skin manifestations are observed, such as:

• urticaria;
• vesicular elements;
• morbilliform exanthema.

The above skin manifestations are not so informative, because they are observed in various viral infections, which cannot be said about pernio-like skin lesions or chills, which are a significant diagnostic criterion for coronavirus infection.

Pernio-like skin lesions or chills appear as a superficial, inflammatory vascular response on the acral skin, mainly occurring after exposure to low temperatures in middle-aged children and women.

Read also: How to recognize a coronavirus in a person

A special registry was created for the study, which collected cases of coronavirus infection with dermatological manifestations. All information was provided by medical workers from April 8, 2020 to May 20, 2020, the main contribution to the analysis of skin manifestations in COVID-19 was made by dermatologists from American Association of Dermatologists (AAD). For a correct analysis of the information, only cases of new pernio-like skin lesions with a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus infection were included in the registry, while patients with early pernio-like skin lesions were excluded from the control group.

 

 

The registry included 505 cases of skin manifestations associated with COVID-19   in 25 days, reported by dermatologists (50%), other doctors (37%) and mid-level specialists (8%). Three hundred and eighteen cases (63%) identified pernio-like patients were young and healthy individuals with an average age of 25 years. Adolescents and children also took part in the study, a total of 93 people. The history of the life of the examined was not burdened, only 25% of all subjects had concomitant diseases. Three hundred and eighteen cases (63%) revealed  pernio-like changes or chills in patients with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis.

Follow us on Facebook!

The patients were mostly young and healthy people with an average age of 25 years. Also, adolescents and children, a total of 93 people, took part in the study. The anamnesis of the life of the examined was not burdened, only 25% of all subjects had concomitant diseases.

Read also: How to distinguish coronavirus from flu and cold.

Twenty-three cases (7%) of pernio-like lesions were patients with a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus infection; confirmed diagnosis of  COVID-19 (for example, a child of a healthcare worker, with a confirmed diagnosis). All other cases were not laboratory confirmed, but were accompanied by pronounced symptoms (cough, headache, sore throat and fever).

Pernio-like lesions of the skin in the legs accounted for 84% of all dermatopathology, lesions of the legs and hands were registered in 10%, and lesions of the hands separately in 5% of cases.

Associated acrocyanosis was observed in 9%, and acral desquamation in 4% of cases, 29% of patients lived in regions with temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius, in which idiopathic & nbsp; Periorbital skin manifestations

Another reported case of skin manifestations in COVID-19 is periorbital  dyschromia (erythema), which appears as a twilight red lesion, with no itching and no signs of conjunctivitis. An interesting fact is that periorbital changes in this case appeared before the symptoms of the underlying disease.

 

The patient was prescribed Alcometasone dipropionate ointment 0.05%, after which the periorbital erythema disappeared, but returned again after 10 days. Symptoms of coronavirus infection also appeared 10 days later, accompanied by the same periorbital erythema. Dermatological manifestations completely disappeared after the resolution of the underlying disease and did not appear again.

.

Other skin lesions in patients with COVID-19

When examining 678 people with a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus infection, the prevailing skin manifestation   was  erythematous rash (70%), which was observed in a wide range of clinical manifestations - macular, papular, maculo-papular and erythema with multiform-like rashes). Most patients with erythematous rash experienced mild itching, but no correlation was found between itching and fever.

Read also: 

Preservation of the COVID-19 virus on surfaces and in the air.

The severity of coronavirus infection and dermatological manifestations are also not related.

Such  dermatological manifestations as petechiae, gravity-dependent and multiple, generalized palpable purpura are explained  by an increase in prothrombin time and D-dimer in patients. Absolutely all skin manifestations in patients with COVID-19 spontaneously resolved after 2-5 days without

any medication.

Conclusion

The patient's skin is the first thing the doctor pays attention to. In the current situation, it is very important to exclude a potential threat in the form of a coronavirus infection. Pernio-like lesions or chills should be examined very carefully, as they are significant prognostic sign. If other dermatological manifestations are detected, it is also worth paying attention to the patient's history and conducting an additional examination.

Watch on YouTube

: