Doctors treating COVID-19 now say that purple or blue toe lesions appearing on patients' toes may be a way to diagnose infection, as these have appeared in otherwise asymptomatic and severe cases alike; however, so far there have been no conclusive studies to validate the phenomenon now being called "COVID toes."
No COVID toes here!
"They're typically painful to touch and could have a hot burning sensation," Dr. Ebbing Lautenbach, chief of infectious disease at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine told USA Today.
Lautenbach said that COVID toes are disproportionately present in children and young adults, who may otherwise be asymptomatic or test negative at early stages of the virus.
Intriguingly, the most severe COVID-19 patients also exhibited COVID toes, said Susan Wilcox, Massachusetts General Hospital's chief of critical care for the emergency department, who told USA Today that this symptom is most common in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
There are two possible explanations for COVID toes, according to Lautenbach: It could possibly be a localized inflammatory response to infection that presents in a person's foot and toes, or it might be a blood vessel clot-more research would need to be done.
Purple and blue lesions on the toes are also present in severe flu or viral pneumonia patients, according to Wilcox.
No conclusive research has been done on COVID toes, experts warn, so all explanations and evidence is still anecdotal at this point.
Common symptoms of coronavirus include fever, tiredness, dry cough and some people can experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and diarrhea-among other symptoms-according to the World Health Organization. It generally takes five to six days from the point of infection for someone to begin presenting with symptoms of the disease, though it can take up to 14 days-and some cases are totally asymptomatic. If you experience a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, WHO recommends you seek medical attention.
Q&A On Coronaviruses (COVID-19) (World Health Organization)
What are 'COVID toes'? Doctors Discover Symptom Of Coronavirus Mostly Seen In Kids (USA Today)
What Are 'COVID Toes'? (The Cut)
Coronavirus Self-Checker (Center For Disease Control)
What Are The Symptoms Of COVID-19 Coronavirus, And When Should You See A Doctor? (Forbes)
COVID-19 Coronavirus: How Long Are You Contagious And Do Symptoms Last? (Forbes)
Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus
I'm the Under 30 Editorial Community Lead at Forbes. Previously, I directed marketing at a mobile app startup. I've also worked at The New York Times and New York
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