Toe skin disease – a Covid-19 symptom?
The Department of Disease Control (DDC) said there is no evidence to prove that skin disease at the toes is a Covid-19 symptom, though the department has cautioned Thais to stay alert.
“There are reports of Covid-19 patients in foreign countries displaying a symptom of skin disease at their toes [which looks like light red or purple blisters],” DDC medical adviser Dr Pornchai Jirachanakul said. “These reports that the blisters could be associated with Covid-19 are just speculation. There is no empirical evidence to support this hypothesis and, therefore, further investigation and experimentation are needed before we can conclude that the two are linked.”
Pornchai said none the Covid-19 patients who have been treated at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute has displayed such a symptom.
“Skin diseases could in fact be the result of reaction after being treated for Covid-19 using certain medications. Symptoms could vary from a rash to pimples or skin inflammation to a darkening skin colour,” he said.
“We will, however, continue to closely monitor the symptoms of Covid-19 patients to study the nature of this disease. If you have symptoms similar to pneumonia, such as fever, coughing, soar throat or other respiratory symptoms, go see a doctor immediately,” Pornchai advised.