A small subset of people may develop symptoms that are thought to be less common. Understand the explanation of the experts on the subject
THE NEW YORK TIMES – At this point in the pandemic’s long journey, many people are familiar with the telltale symptoms of a yeast infection. COVID-19: sore throat, persistent cough, congestion, fever and total body exhaustion. But a small subset of people also develop less common symptoms, which may sound like the spells of a children’s story: hairy tongues, purple fingers, bruises sprouting on the face🇧🇷
“Every infectious disease has common and uncommon manifestations,” said Dr. Mark Mulligan, infectious disease specialist at NYU Langone Health. As we learn more about the coronavirus, he said, we may better understand the underlying causes of these rare symptoms, but for now, it’s mostly a guessing game.
Confusing symptoms have been a component of covid since the pandemic began; loss of taste and smell has become an ominous sign of the disease. Covid also has the potential to disrupt menstrual cycles, a side effect some women have also reported after vaccination.
A study of over 60,000 people who tested positive for Covid and reported their symptoms found that a small percentage experienced ringing in the ears, sore eyes, rashes, red welts on the face or lips, hair loss and pain. joint. A larger analysis of more than 600,000 people in Britain showed that a fraction of people with Covid also developed purple sores and blisters on their feet and numbness of the body, among other complaints.
Doctors aren’t sure why only some people develop these unusual symptoms. Genetics could play a role, Mulligan said, and vaccination status could as well, as an unvaccinated person could have a more severe infection, which could lead to a different course of symptoms. Scientists have also found that the coronavirus can enter the bloodstream in a minority of people, he said, meaning it’s possible for the virus to enter multiple organs and cause symptoms beyond the respiratory system.
Antiviral treatments such as Paxlovid they can relieve symptoms like a COVID-related rash, perhaps because they can reduce the amount of virus in the bloodstream, said Dr. Kelly Gebo, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins Medicine. But it’s not clear whether these symptoms are caused directly by the virus or by the body’s response to it.
Inflammation could also be to blame, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco. If the virus enters the bloodstream and affects multiple parts of the body, immune cells cluster in those areas, Chin-Hong said. This means that an ear, for example, which would not normally be affected by the virus, can become inflamed, malfunction and even hurt.
Covid also leaves patients in a weakened state, he said, meaning pathogens left over in their bodies from previous infections — such as herpes or the virus that causes shingles — can reactivate, causing a rash rash or cold sores after covid.
A third theory is that the stress that can result from a Covid infection — the anxiety of quarantine, loss of income, fear of long-term health implications — can also trigger symptoms like hair loss and hives, he said. said Chin.-Hong.
Each of these symptoms, when associated with Covid, usually resolves within a few weeks, often without treatment, he added. And there are no set rules about how doctors treat them, Gebo said. “We have established guidelines for how to treat shortness of breath,” she said, “but we don’t have established guidelines for the other symptoms.”
Here’s what we know about the causes of some of these symptoms and potential treatments.
hairy tongue
Healthy tongue cells are replaced quickly, Chin-Hong said, but if older cells remain and build up on top of each other, they form a dark, thick, fuzzy overgrowth often called hairy tongue or, more commonly, , hairy tongue. Even before Covid, doctors were seeing patients with hairy tongues linked to viral infections, smoking, antibiotic use and poor hygiene, she said, adding, “It’s more common than you think.”
“I know it looks very scary for people,” she said, but the affliction is usually temporary. Some people may also experience a burning sensation inside the mouth. People with this symptom shouldn’t be “scared,” Chin-Hong said. People with hairy tongues can use a tongue scraper or toothbrush to scrape these cells off their tongues, and can practice good oral hygiene to prevent further buildup.
In rare cases, people with covid may also develop thrush, also known as oral thrush, which occurs when a fungus infects the mouth. The problem has been linked to a suppressed immune system or antibiotic use, Chin-Hong said. Doctors usually diagnose canker sores by examining white lesions that may appear on the cheek, tongue, or mouth; treatment usually lasts 10 to 14 days, with an antifungal drug.
tingling nerves
When people develop the tingling sensation in their skin, it could be because their nerves are inflamed by infection-fighting immune cells, Chin-Hong said. It’s also possible that the virus itself could damage peripheral nerves, such as those running to the hands and feet, Gebo said.
“What we don’t know is whether it’s the direct impact of the virus itself or whether it’s inflammation,” he said. “These are things we’re trying to figure out.”
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that people who tested positive for covid were about three times more likely to report pain, tingling and numbness in their hands and feet than those who tested negative.
For many people, that tingling sensation goes away within days, Gebo said. If patients are experiencing pain, she added, they should consult their doctors, who might recommend Tylenol or Motrin.
People with persistent nerve pain, even after recovering from the virus, should see their doctors, said Dr. Marc Sala, co-director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Covid-19.
Rashes
It’s well known that viruses can induce skin rashes, Sala said, and he noted that he’s seen a wide range of skin conditions in Covid patients. The Association of the American Academy of Dermatology cites itching, chickenpox-like blisters, rashes that form lacy patterns on the skin, and raised bumps as possible skin conditions linked to COVID-19. If you develop a rash that persists after recovering from Covid, Sala recommends seeing a dermatologist.
hair loss
Any kind of physical or emotional discomfort can cause hair loss, said Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic. It’s not entirely clear whether the Covid infection itself or related stress causes some people to lose their hair, she said, adding, “It’s not permanent, the hair comes back. It just needs time.”
covid finger
Scientists are still debating what causes ‘covid toe’, the rash and blisters that form on some people’s feet and toes after they’re infected, causing their toes to become swollen and viola. One theory is that people with Covid may have microvascular clots, which occur in the smallest blood vessels and block the blood supply, causing this discoloration, Sala said.
Patients who develop covid finger usually do so during the acute phase of the infection, he added, and symptoms tend to disappear soon after. The Association of the American Academy of Dermatology recommends treatment with a hydrocortisone cream.
“We are studying Covid,” Mulligan said. “We still don’t understand everything.” / TRANSLATION BY RENATO PRELORENTZOU
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Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
