Study links skin rashes to Covid
The findings showed that among respondents of an online survey, 17
per cent of SARS-CoV-2-positive cases reported skin rashes as the first
presentation, and 21 per cent as the only Covid-19 clinical sign.
"Cutaneous
manifestations of Covid-19 are sometimes the first or even the only
sign of SARS-CoV-2 infection," said researcher Mario Falchi from King's
College London in the UK.
"Recognition of such
early signs and symptoms of Covid-19 may enable identification of cases
missed when relying only on the core symptoms, allowing preventive
measures to be put in place to minimise further spreading of the
infection," Falchi added.
According to the
researchers, previous studies conducted in hospitals also reported that
Covid-19 patients presented with unusual skin rashes.
For
the study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, the team
analyzed information provided by 336,847 individuals in the community
who used the Covid Symptom Study app.
Together
with the British Association of Dermatologists, the study's
investigators compiled a catalogue of images of the most common skin
manifestations of Covid-19 from 400 individuals.