ORAL lesions and skin rashes are an "important" manifestation of COVID-19, according to evidence published in the British Journal of Dermatology.
A study conducted in Spain of 666 COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate pneumonia being treated during the pandemic’s peak in Madrid found that 46 per cent had some form of mucocutaneous manifestation.
Skin problems on the hands and feet were particularly common (40 per cent), as well as findings inside the mouth (26 per cent). The most common hand and foot issue was diffuse skin peeling (25 per cent), and most common issue found in the mouth was transient lingual papillitis, also known as lie bumps, characterised by the appearance of small red or white bumps on the tongue.
Other dermatological manifestations were seen in a minority of patients, including urticaria (6.9 per cent), rash (2.9 per cent) and vesicular eruptions (1.6 per cent).
The high prevalence of COVID-19 associated mucocutaneous manifestations in this study differs from previous ones, possibly because it included manifestations not previously described, particularly lesions inside the mouth. Skin rashes alone were relatively uncommon (11 per cent) in this study compared to previous studies. The authors hypothesise several reasons for this, including the age of the group being studied (mean age 56).
The British Association of Dermatologists has set up an online gallery highlighting some of the common skin symptoms of COVID-19.
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