COVID-19 and dermatology – early detection and behavior in prehospital care
Medical Review (Med. pregled), 2023, 59(4), 5-11.
I. Miteva1, V. Valchev2
1 Chair of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University – Sofia
2 Chair of Physiology and Biochemistry, “Vasil Levski” National Sports Academy
Abstract. The aim of this manuscript is to investigate skin diseases associated with COVID-19 under three main headings: skin problems related to personal protective equipment and personal hygiene measures, skin findings observed in SARS-CoV-2 virus infections, and skin findings due to COVID-19 treatment agents. In PubMed and Google Scholar databases, publications on skin lesions related to personal protective equipment and personal hygiene measures, skin findings observed in SARS-CoV-2 virus infections and skin findings due to COVID-19 treatment agents subjects were searched in detail. Pressure injury, contact dermatitis, pruritus, pressure urticaria, exacerbation of preexisting skin diseases, and new skin lesion occurrence/new skin disease occurrence may be due to personal protective equipment. The incidence of skin lesions due to COVID-19 was reported to be between 0.2% and 29%. Many skin lesions including maculopapular, urticarial, vesicular, chilblain-like, thrombotic/ischemic, etc., are observed in COVID-19 patients. Some authors have stated that there is an absence of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection-specific skin rashes. Many skin lesions may appear as a result of COVID-19. Even in the absence of a COVID-19 diagnosis, skin findings should be evaluated carefully in thе pandemic period.
Key words: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, dermatology, skin rashes
Address for correspondence: Assoc. Prof. Iva Miteva, e-mаil: i.miteva@foz.mu-sofia.bg