Ever since this COVID-19 pandemic started, there have been a number of reports of the symptoms you should look for if you think you have it. You’re most likely aware of the common symptoms:
– Cough
– Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
– Chills
– Fever
– Muscle pain
– New loss of taste or smell
– Sore throat
The most prevalent symptom is the loss of appetite or anorexia. The second most common is upper-abdominal or epigastric (the area right below your ribs) pain or diarrhea, which is concerning to a lot of ulcerative colitis patients.
There are also less common symptoms that are reported like nausea, chest or heart issues or diarrhea. But have you heard of “COVID toes?”
Infectious disease experts suggest that “COVID toes” might be the result of the body’s inflammatory response being focused on the foot and toes.
The lesions also could be tied to the clotting of blood vessels in these extremities. But there are no clear answers.
RELATED: New Symptoms of the Omicron Variant
What patients are experiencing are red or purple bumps on their toes or hands, as well as a burning sensation, often with pain and tenderness. It seems to go away after about 2-3 weeks.
Similar lesions also occur in other types of viral infections, particularly viral respiratory infections that lead to ARDS.
Many of the cases involving so-called “COVID toes” have been in children and young adults. Dr. Robin Gehris, division chief of pediatric dermatology at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh has documented about 30 cases of “COVID toes” in children, teens and young adults under 26.