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CoronavirusResearchClinical governanceHealth surveillanceOccupational Health

Mouth lesions and skin rashes could be another sign of Covid-19

by Nic Paton 8 Oct 2020
by Nic Paton 8 Oct 2020 Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Shutterstock

Oral lesions and skin rashes could be another potential symptom of Covid-19 for clinicians and healthcare professionals to look out for, the British Association of Dermatologists has said.

In a research letter published in the British Journal of Dermatology researchers have argued that oral lesions and skin rashes, also known as mucocutaneous manifestations, can be an important sign of Covid-19.

The study included 666 Covid-19 patients with mild to moderate pneumonia who were being treated in a temporary field hospital set up during the pandemic’s peak in Madrid, Spain. Nearly half (46%) had some form of mucocutaneous manifestation, with issues with the skin on the hands and feet being particularly common (40%), as well as findings inside the mouth (26%).

The most common hand and foot issue was diffuse skin peeling (25%), 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. Urticaria (6.9%), rash (2.9%) and vesicular eruptions (1.6%) were observed in a minority of patients, it added.

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The finding adds to a growing list of symptoms that can be a sign of someone having Covid-19, beyond the core symptoms of a high temperature, a new continuous cough and a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, as defined by the NHS.

The association has set up an online gallery highlighting some of the common skin symptoms of Covid-19 so as to help improve understanding of the disease.

Nic Paton

Nic Paton is consultant editor at Personnel Today. One of the country's foremost workplace health journalists, Nic has written for Personnel Today and Occupational Health & Wellbeing since 2001, and edited the magazine from 2018.

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8 comments

Anita 27 Dec 2020 - 12:49 pm

I was diagnosed with covid-19 dec 12, 2020 after beginning with symptoms on December 5, 2020. The inside of my mouth started to peel more than 15 days from the onset after I started feeling a lot better, as if it were an after affect. It is not painful but the inside of my lips feel spongy with a sensation of the beginnings if a fever blister. I took 500mg of my Famvir for 2 days (thinking it was virus related) and it started to clear up the next 2 days, still healing 4 days later. The spongy feeling is still inside my lips. The peeling was above my teeth, not inside my mouth. I was not on any covid meds. My dentist suggested it was the result of the infection.
When I was 19 I had scarlet fever and the palms of my hands peeled after I started to get better….reminiscent of it.

Liz 19 Jan 2021 - 6:14 am

I too experience back and inner lip rash a few days after my quarantine period.

Beth 21 Jan 2021 - 3:28 pm

I have dry mouth, loss of taste, sores on my tongue, peeling of the skin inside my mouth, ear pain, and pain under my teeth on the same side as my ear pain, & more tired than usual No other symptoms I just had blood test done for auto immune disease and diabetes and it all came back negative. The clinic said they don’t want to test me for COVID because I don’t have any symptoms. How can they say that when they don’t know everything there is to know about COVID,

Janie 30 Jan 2021 - 9:54 pm

Beth I have the same symptoms, I’ve had COVID for 3 weeks now.

Rebecca 20 Feb 2021 - 3:18 am

I have/ had the same symptoms and was diagnosed on the 4th of December. Almost 3 months later, still have lots of issues with my mouth!

Heidi K 7 Mar 2021 - 11:09 pm

I had similar
7 Jan 2020 onset like a powerful flu
8 Jan tiredness and sore throat no temperature but felt like I was overheating so windows open and no coverage. Cannot smell or taste.
9th Jan given penicillin, couldn’t think straight for anything, sleeping almost all day and night
11th Jan spotty mouth as well as intolerable sore throat. Later turned into all body rash, super itchy mucus membranes.
13th Jan couldn’t breathe, panting.. 20 weeks pregnant with twins didn’t help. Heart rate 141 for many days
13th Jan Hospital Blood tests stated very bad virus ‘don’t know what as we don’t test for everything. Assumed allergy to penicillin. Oxygen levels pass enough to not harm pregnancy (ty cycling) BP high however. Hospital revisit 20 Jan – quarantined, scanned babies but unknown virus.
skin started peeling off thinly all over body but vision goes blurry for a further 3 weeks. Absolutely terrifying.
5 weeks off work in total.

Heidi K 7 Mar 2021 - 11:19 pm

Note Didnt mention constant coughing to exhaustion.
And I’m found not allergic to a penicillin type which was required during the cesarian.

Mary L 12 Apr 2021 - 2:26 am

I just got out of the hospital with Covid 2 days ago and today I’ve noticed that my vision is REALLY blurry!!! I even put in brand new contacts, just in case. Also, the inside of my mouth is becoming covered in a white film, like thrush. I don’t know if that is common but I’m really getting scared with all the weird side issues!!

Comments are closed.

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