BackgroundDifferent skin manifestations of COVID‐19 are being reported. Acral lesions on the hands and feet, closely resembling chilblains, have been recognized during the peak incidence of the COVID‐19 pandemic.Material and methodsA retrospective review of 22 children and adolescents with chilblain‐like lesions seen over a short period of time in the Emergency Department of a children's hospital during the peak incidence of COVID‐19 in Madrid, Spain.ResultsAll patients had lesions clinically consistent with chilblains of the toes or feet, with three also having lesions of the fingers. Pruritus and mild pain were the only skin symptoms elicited, and only 10 had mild respiratory and/or GI symptoms. None had fever. Coagulation tests, hemogram, serum chemistry, and lupus anticoagulant were normal in all patients tested. One out of 16 tested cases had elevated D‐dimer results, but without systemic symptoms or other laboratory anomalies. SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR tested in 19 cases was positive in just one case. Skin biopsies obtained in six patients were consistent with chilblains. On follow‐up, all cases showed spontaneous marked improvement or complete healing.ConclusionAcute chilblains were observed during COVID‐19 pandemic in children and teenagers. It is a mildly symptomatic condition with an excellent prognosis, usually requiring no therapy. Etiopathogenesis remains unknown.
Skin manifestations including urticarial, morbilliform, vesicular and petechial exanthems, and vasospastic manifestations such as livedo reticularis and acral ischemic lesions 1-5 have been reported in association with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In particular, chilblains on the feet and hands have being extensively documented worldwide during the peak incidence of the pandemic. [6][7][8] During our examination of 22 cases of chilblains in children and adolescents, 9 we identified four patients who also showed skin lesions similar to erythema multiforme. We report these cases and discuss their clinical and histopathologic features, as well as the possible relationship to COVID-19.
We describe 5 children with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, hemodynamic instability and suspected acute abdomen. This form of the disease has not been previously documented. Four of the cases were confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and 1 probable. All of them were previously healthy and needed a pediatric critical care unit admission. The respiratory symptoms were not dominant or were absent. Also, fever was observed. Laboratory testing revealed lymphopenia and high levels of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin with d-dimer, ferritin and interleukin-6 usually elevated. Respiratory support and inotropic support were almost always necessary. In all of them, deterioration occurred on the day of admission.
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