From the start of the crisis linked to the new coronavirus, dermatologists were faced with an upsurge in consultations linked to redness and unexplained cases of pseudo-frostbite, nicknamed the “Covid toes”
In April 2020, the National Union of Dermatologists-Venereologists had reported that Covid-19 could cause dermatological symptoms, such as “acrosyndromas (appearance of pseudo-frostbite of the extremities), the sudden appearance of persistent redness which is sometimes painful, and transient urticaria lesions “.
“No symptoms”
However, according to a study published recently in the very serious Swiss Medical Review, these lesions, blue or purplish on the toes and feet of patients, are in fact the sign of a natural immune reaction against the virus.
“The majority of cases do not present symptoms of Covid-19 or of PCR or positive serology, despite a probable exposure to SARS-CoV-2”, underline the Swiss researchers of the dermatology department at the Center hospitalier universitaire du canton de Vaud.
These skin reactions would therefore be good news for those who have developed them, even if the phenomenon seems quite rare.
“It is difficult to give a precise figure since many patients with pseudo-frostbite do not consult. But we can estimate that this should be between 0.05% and 0.5%”, estimates doctor Ahmad Yatim, author of study.
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