A team of Spanish experts is investigating after cases showed COVID-19 sufferers could be identified early through lesions to their feet “similar to chickenpox”.
The Spanish General Council of Official Podiatrist Colleges released a statement yesterday (Thursday) saying several COVID-19 patients had shown lesions to their feet “similar to those of chickenpox or measles”.
The statement read: “Numerous cases are being observed in different countries: Italy, France, Spain… It is a curious finding that started to be spread in the health community yesterday (8th April) primarily between dermatologists and podologists.
“There has been an increasing detection of a symptom in COVID-19 sufferers, especially in children and adolescents, however, it has also been detected in some adults.
“They are purple lesions (very similar to those of chickenpox, measles or chilblains) which usually appear on the toes and normally heal without leaving a mark.”
The statement goes on to say: “The Podologists Council urges its colleges and its members to remain alert because this can be a sign of detection of COVID-19 to avoid infection.”
Local media report if the relation between the disease and the lesions is proven, it can serve as an early detection sign of the virus or help lead to a diagnosis in asymptomatic patients.
However, the council says: “Obviously, due to the short time we still cannot speak of scientific evidence.”
The council is investigating the finding.
The Internation Federation of Podologists released an article recently reporting one of the first cases of the symptom after the lesions appeared on the foot of a 13-year-old boy on 8th March, which were initially thought to be caused by a brown recluse spider bite.
However, the 13-year-old later presented COVID-19 symptoms and upon studying his family’s medical history, doctors found his sister and mother had a fever, cough and difficulty breathing six days before he first had the lesions.
According to the latest figures by the Johns Hopkins University, there have been 1,612,646 cases of COVID-19 leading to 96,787 deaths across the globe.
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Story By: Juan Mayes, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
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