• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
BlackDoctor.org
Where Wellness & Culture Connect

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

  • Health Conditions
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Longevity
  • Resource Centers
    • Cancer Resource Center
    • Covid Resource Center
  • Find A Doctor
  • BDO TV
Home / Health Conditions / Diabetes / ‘COVID Toes’ Might Be a Sign You Had the Disease

‘COVID Toes’ Might Be a Sign You Had the Disease

Many of them had symptoms similar to COVID-19 several weeks before their toe lesions appeared. “COVID toes” appeared as red or purple lesions that were tender, itchy or both.

“Patients with ‘COVID toes’ seem to be healthy when it presents and we wonder if they could be in the process of mounting an antibody response to the virus with secondary inflammation,” Gehris told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

While COVID toes and rashes have been associated with the coronavirus more than other viral infections, Pulmonologist Dr. Humberto Choi explains that these symptoms haven’t been widespread so far.

“These symptoms seem to be more common in COVID-19 compared with all other viral infections,” says Dr. Choi. “But at this time, they haven’t affected a majority of people. So, the symptoms that people should be looking for are really a fever, cough, and muscle aches that you can get when you have a viral infection.

You May Also Like
15 Natural Remedies for Aches and Pains

COVID Headache: Everything you Need to Know

Those are the most common symptoms — and those are the things that people should be keeping on their radar.”

Not so common symptoms include some that may mimic rheumatoid arthritis in the feet. Some complain of pain or stiffness in the toe joints or in the ligaments throughout the foot. Other symptoms include persistent aching or soreness in the feet and abnormal warmth in one or more areas of the foot.

While the toes may of interest to some when it comes to COVID, others are focusing on their breasts. Specifically, some people who have been vaccinated complain of “breast cancer” like symptoms.

You May Also Like
Bacon and other meats May Increase Your Risk for This Lung Disease

Like all vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines can cause swelling of the lymph nodes, which shows that your body is mounting an immune response. Swollen lymph nodes, however, can also be a symptom of breast cancer.

What’s even more interesting is that these swollen lymph nodes can show up in a mammogram even if women can’t feel them. That prompted the Society of Breast Imaging to recommend that women postpone any mammography scheduled within four weeks after their final COVID-19 shot.

Dermatology experts say one of the challenges around the toe lesions is that the knowledge is continuing to evolve around how they counsel patients regarding quarantine at this time. People should be following CDC and local guidelines in terms of self-isolating, regardless. We know that some patients who develop the pernio-like lesions of their feet are still infectious, because they are testing PCR positive for the virus.

This means that there is a potential risk of transmitting the virus to others. It seems that some people may develop these lesions while they are still infectious, while others may develop them somewhat later in the disease course. We need more data on the timing of these pernio-like lesions so we can better guide our providers on how to counsel their patients. That is an area we are actively working on.

This has public health implications because if your patient is potentially still infectious when their toes are purple, that is a different story than if they are not infectious and they are already basically over the infectious stage of the virus.

Bottom line: ask your doctor no matter of the symptoms or part of the body the symptoms appear.

One patient in a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was initally leary of getting his feet and toes checked out because of his previous underlying condition of prostate cancer.

According to the NIH, among tumor types, prostate cancer and COVID-19 share several risk factors, and the interaction of prostate cancer and COVID-19 is purported to have an adverse outcome. The study concluded that hospitalization and mortality rates were higher in prostate cancer patients with COVID-19 when compared with COVID-19 patients with non-prostate genitourinary (GU) malignancies.

October 12, 2020 by Barry Anderson, BDO Contributing Writer

Previous pageRead Next Article

The Latest In Diabetes

diabetes

8 Tips For Handling Diabetes In The Summer Heat

The summer heat requires greater care for diabetes medications and supplies. High temperatures can also change the way your body uses insulin. The following tips will help you keep your cool, and your diabetes medications and supplies safe. 1. Drink read more about 8 Tips For Handling Diabetes In The Summer Heat
diabetes

A Healthy Future Starts With A Change In The Present

In order to set your future self up for success, there are things that need to be done now for you to get there. Success isn’t easy nor is it linear. When it comes to success, there may be more read more about A Healthy Future Starts With A Change In The Present
prediabetes

Under 45 With Prediabetes? Your Heart Attack Risk Is Rising

If you're a young adult with prediabetes, you may already know you have a greater than average risk of full-blown diabetes. But you could also be at increased risk for a heart attack, new research shows. "After taking into account read more about Under 45 With Prediabetes? Your Heart Attack Risk Is Rising
What Causes Feet To Swell

What Causes Feet To Swell? 7 Main Reasons

Q: What causes feet to swell? - P. H.  A: There are many reasons the feet may swell. It is very important that you figure out the root cause behind your swollen feet. There are some serious health implications as read more about What Causes Feet To Swell? 7 Main Reasons
diabetes and hair loss

Diabetes and Hair Loss: What You Need To Know

Diabetes is a lifelong condition in which the body's blood sugar levels are too high. Worldwide, 371 million people have diabetes, and that figure is expected to grow to 552 million by 2030. There are two types of diabetes - read more about Diabetes and Hair Loss: What You Need To Know
body changes

10 Changes In Your Body Black Women Should Never Ignore

Women around the world struggle to balance work, home, children, errands, and so on. Their list of things to do never ends and in this hectic lifestyle, a large number of them end up ignoring changes in your body that read more about 10 Changes In Your Body Black Women Should Never Ignore

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to our newsletter

Poll

Popular Posts

  • Marjorie Harvey: Fit, Fine & 57!Marjorie Harvey: Fit, Fine & 57!
  • Snoop Dogg & Wife: 26 Years And Still Going StrongSnoop Dogg & Wife: 26 Years And Still Going Strong
  • Halle Berry: Over 50 ‘Just Keeps Getting Better With Time’Halle Berry: Over 50 'Just Keeps Getting Better With Time'
  • Queen Latifah Sheds Light on BMI Chart Flaws: “I’m Just Thick”Queen Latifah Sheds Light on BMI Chart Flaws: "I'm Just Thick"
  • LL Cool J & Wife Simone Smith Celebrate 25 Years Married: “We Celebrate Life”LL Cool J & Wife Simone Smith Celebrate 25 Years Married: "We Celebrate Life"

Podcast

Footer

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

BDO is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Learn More About

  • Hepatitis C
  • Diabetes
  • Sickle Cell
  • Mental Health
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy
  • Daily Vitamina
  • TBH

Copyright © 2022, BlackDoctor, Inc. All rights reserved.