Doctors Investigating Possible New COVID-19 Symptom On Feet

A group of Spanish doctors is investigating a possible new symptom of the coronavirus COVID-19.

The Spanish General Council of Official Podiatrist Colleges released a statement last Thursday saying that lesions on the feet could potentially be a sign of the virus.

The professional body said they had come across several sick patients who had lesions on their feet.

The patients were mainly children and young people, although a few were adults.

"These are purple-coloured lesions (very similar to those of chickenpox, measles or chilblains) that usually appear around the toes and that usually heal without leaving marks on the skin," the statement read.

The medical body said "numerous cases" of coronavirus patients with foot lesions have been found in Italy, France and Spain.

While the group warned that because of the short time period "scientific evidence cannot be discussed yet", it urged podiatrists to be vigilant to the possible symptoms.

"The Council of Podiatrists urges its Colleges and its members to be very vigilant because this may be a sign of COVID-19 detection that can help to avoid the spread," the statement read.

"The Council wants to convey a message of calm to parents and possible victims, given the benign nature of the lesions, and to remember that they should monitor the appearance of the other clinical symptoms characteristic of COVID-19, such as cough, fever, respiratory distress."

The statement comes after the International Federation of Podiatrists published an article about one of the first cases with this symptom.

On March 8 a 13-year-old boy developed lesions on his foot which were first thought to be caused by a spider bite. The teen was later diagnosed with COVID-19 after developing symptoms.

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