As kids and senior citizens are more prone to the novel coronavirus, Dermatologists in Europe and America are discussing a new potential symptom to identify a Covid-19 patient. Some dermatologists in Italy found swelling of toes and feet, and discolouration of the organ of those suffering from Covid-19 in March.
This condition is much like frostbite or pernio, which is a condition found among people living in harsh winters in polar and sub-polar regions. Here blood vessels in the toes get aggravated reddened, swollen, hot, often painful and toes tend to have a serious spasm.
The condition was nicknamed 'Covid Toes' because dermatologists found it to be most prevalent in areas with a high concentration of Covid-19 patients in Italy.
Now, the same 'Covid Toes' condition is being reported from areas severely hit by novel coronavirus pandemic in the US, like Boston. Doctors associated with the American Academy of Dermatology are now recommending coronavirus tests for kids visiting them with 'Covid Toes'.
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In Italy, such kids did not show any of the previously known symptoms of Covid-19. The correlation was hotly debated among dermatologists and the medical professionals on and off social media.
Novel coronavirus infection became a pandemic because it thrives on asymptomatic patients of Covid-19. Health agencies world over have been firm in dealing with symptomatic Covid-19 patients. But the real challenge has been to identify those Covid-19 patients who don't show symptoms. Now, this has forced affected countries to revise their death toll.
However, these asymptomatic patients may not actually be truly asymptomatic. Sudden loss of smell or taste or having a pink eye is now recognised atypical symptoms - atypical because the common symptoms of Covid-19 still are dry cough, fever, sore throat, tiredness and respiratory difficulties.
Coronavirus symptoms in babies and children:
Generally, COVID-19 symptoms are milder in children than in adults. In a recent study published in Pediatrics of COVID-19 in Chinese children, 90% of those who tested positive for the disease had mild symptoms or none at all.
Fever and cough are common COVID-19 symptoms in both adults and children; shortness of breath is more likely to be seen in adults. Children can have pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms. They can also experience sore throat, excessive fatigue or diarrhoea. Learn more about COVID-19 symptoms.
It is possible that symptoms that are currently atypical for Covid-19 may evolve into key indicators of novel coronavirus infection in months and years to come because, as the World Health Organization warns, this virus is going to stay among humans for a long time.