Cutaneous Manifestations in Patients with COVID-19: A Review

Author(s): Muhammad Hanif, Mukarram Jamat Ali, Qianlan Xi, Muhammad Adnan Haider, Muhammad Umer Ahmed, FNU Sundas, Mansoor Rahman

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a global pandemic after its emergence in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 causes a wide range of clinical manifestations involving multiple organ systems. After the first report of cutaneous manifestation by Dr. Recalcati, the role of dermatologists in the management of COVID-19 has increased, skin involvement in COVID-19 have been higher than expected. In this article, we have reviewed the skin presentations in COVID-19 by analyzing the published literature in PubMed and Google scholar, using the search terms “COVID-19” and “dermatological presentation”. Petechial rash, livedo reticularis, vesicular eruptions, morbilliform rash, and erythema multiforme-like rash have been observed in many patients. Newly reported eruptions like vascular lesions and peculiar (perniosis-like) skin lesions could be of concern. There is also a need to differentiate these lesions from drug reactions. Given the high mortality rate of the infection, timely and accurate identification of relevant cutaneous manifestations could help physicians in the early diagnosis and management, triage of patients, and risk stratification. Associated symptoms, latency time, treatment, and prognosis are also summarized in this manuscript.

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