Coronavirus: COVID toes among unusual symptoms of infection

We know you can experience a fever, runny nose and a cough, or even no symptoms at all, but have you heard about “COVID toes”?

As researchers across the world work to find out more about the deadly coronavirus, they are uncovering more symptoms patients can experience.

Melbourne doctors say they are seeing more types of skin rashes and what have been dubbed “COVID toes” that look blistered, swollen and red.

As doctors learn about the deadly infection as they go, they are discovering more about how it attacks the body and how it manifests to show some symptoms - and as we know, sometimes none at all.

Earlier this week Spanish researchers revealed they found mouth ulcers in four female and two male patients with COVID-19 – aged between 40 and 69 – out of a survey of 21.

But because of the safety concerns around infections, many patients suspected to have the virus don’t have their mouth examined so doctors believe there could be more.

The lesions can appear anywhere between two and 24 days after the onset of more commonly-recognised COVID-19 symptoms.

READ MORE: Four Vic children in hospital with virus

READ MORE: Victoria‘s huge infection control blunder

COVID toes are said to be one of the symptoms of coronavirus. Picture: Dr Amy Paller, Northwestern University

It follows a separate group of Spanish scientists in April linking lesions on feet to coronavirus.

Doctors first started noticing rashes on COVID patients in Italy.

COVID toes are typically painful to touch and could have a hot burning sensation.

Doctors say they could be the first clue you have COVID, and you might not even get other symptoms.

But ANU Professor Peter Collignon told news.com.au earlier this year people had to be careful because someone with COVID could have other infections too.

“And some of those pictures look like foot and mouth disease, which is a virus children get,” he said.

“So, you’ve got to be careful that what’s being attributed to COVID is not just another virus they have at the same time.

“You can’t assume that just because someone has COVID that COVID is the cause of a rash.”

Medical experts have previously described how coronavirus kills its victims in “a ferocious rampage through the body, from brain to toes”.

Other symptoms are still emerging. Picture: Dr Amy Paller, Northwestern University

Initially WHO did not recognise a rash as a symptom of coronavirus but now it says other symptoms that are less common include aches and pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhoea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discolouration of fingers or toes.

It says these symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually.

WHO says the most common symptoms are fever, dry cough and tiredness.

Emergency doctor Stephen Parnis said elderly patients were presenting with delirium.

“We believe it seems to really affect blood vessels and blood vessels go to all parts of the body,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Sanjaya Senanayake, Associate Professor of Medicine at Australian National University, said one of the most unusual things we had learned about the coronavirus was losing your sense of smell.

“Anyone who’s had a regular cold knows nasal congestion can affect your sense of smell,” he said in The Conversation.

“But COVID-19 is different. People can lose their smell without a runny or blocked nose.”