Ieva Radavičiūtė1, Inga Kisielienė1,2
1 Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
2 Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Clinic of Infectious diseases and Dermatovenereology, Center of Dermatovenereology, Vilnius, Lithuania
Abstract
The new SARS-CoV-2 virus appeared in late 2019. It is a highly pathogenic and rapidly spreading virus. Even more than a year after, this is still a relevant issue. The virus usually causes symptoms of airway damage, but it can also harm skin. COVID-19-associated skin lesions have also been reported in the pediatric population.
The aim of this work is to review the literature of characteristic rashes in children infected with COVID-19. Databases of “PubMed”, Google Scholar, “Wiley Online Library” were used to search for information. Excluding clinical cases, a series of clinical cases and articles, that did not meet the search criteria, 11 articles describing pediatric rashes were finally reviewed.
A review of the articles revealed that skin lesions of children with COVID-19 include: chilblain-like rash / COVID toes, erythema multiforme-like lesions, urticaria, vesicular exanthema, maculopapular rash, pediatric inflammatory syndrome similar to Kawasaki disease, conjunctivitis, eyelid dermatitis and oral mucosa damage.
COVID-19-associated skin rashes in children are not specific but knowledge and recognition of such rashes may assist in the diagnosis of COVID-19 in children. Faster diagnosis of the disease can help prevent the spread of the disease and improve the prognosis of infected people.
Keywords: COVID-19, skin rash, children, pediatric.