Hyderabad: Covid toes, new symptom of corona infection surfaces?

Hyderabad: More potential and confirmed symptoms of Covid-19 are coming to light as the deadly virus takes its toll on various countries across the globe.

Until now the most common symptoms were fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, sore throat, loss of taste or smell etc while some kids had digestive issues like diarrhea. However, for last few weeks children in some countries are developing foot lesions what is now called as "Covid toes". Dermatologists in various European countries like England as well as in USA have noticed this skin problem in this corona pandemic and when Covid-19 tests are done some of them are testing positive.

In some children this skin problem was noticed and later they developed symptoms like fever and cough. Scientists and medical experts have observed that these foot lesions are localized inflammation to the finger or toes. Or it can be inflammation causing microclots in the circulation. Also an increase in blood clotting has been seen in those who are very ill and hence these foot lesions are being observed in asymptomatic patients as well as patients who are critically ill.

Dr Parthasarathi Anchala, a senior dermatologist from the city observed that Covid toes cases may be seen in future in India in July as cases are expected to grow in June-July. As of now, these symptoms are only being seen in the West and not yet in India.

Dr G K Paramjyothi, HoD (Pulmonology) at NIMS, Panjagutta stated that sudden spurt of cases relating to skin rashes, Covid toes, chilblains have been observed in Europe as well as in US and some of them are testing Covid-19 positive while some are found to be negative also.

" The genetic composition of the different virus strain there and the genetic composition of the population and their interaction might have led to such skin related ailments is the observation but further studies are on. These symptoms were not observed in China and thus far in India," Dr Paramjyothi said.