Unusual Covid-19 symptoms can affect taste, smell, skin and toes

These red, sore, and sometimes itchy, swellings on toes look like chilblains, but are actually an unusual symptom of Covid-19 known informally as Covid toes. — AP

I read that many new things are being discovered about Covid-19, including presentations of some unusual symptoms. But what are the usual symptoms first?

These are the usual or common symptoms for people who have Covid-19:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat
• Loss of taste or smell that is new

These symptoms can range from mild to very severe, and usually appear two to 14 days after the patient’s exposure to the virus.

Are loss of taste or smell considered unusual symptoms?

They were previously, but not any more. In fact, the United Kingdom has just added loss of taste or smell to the list of Covid-19 symptoms to look out for.

If you have either or both of these symptoms, you should immediately quarantine yourself.

Previously, a fever and a cough were the only symptoms that required you to quarantine yourself in case it was Covid-19.

Many scientists and doctors are calling for governments worldwide to update loss of taste and smell into the list of symptoms for compulsory quarantine.

If you have these symptoms, the guideline in the UK is to quarantine or self-isolate for seven days before reassessing your symptoms.

In Malaysia, the quarantine period is 14 days.

The Health Ministry will test you for free if you are a close contact of a confirmed Covid-19 patient, live in an enhanced movement control order (MCO) area or are part of a confirmed Covid-19 cluster.

Alternatively, a number of private hospitals and laboratories can conduct a Covid-19 test for a fee.

In the UK, it is not so easy to get a test.

Loss of smell is medically known as anosmia, while partial loss of taste is known as hypogeusia and complete loss of taste is ageusia.

How can I differentiate the loss of taste and smell from Covid-19 from other causes of loss of taste and smell? I mean, when I have a cold, I also have loss of taste and smell!

Yes, as much as 40% of people with other viral infections of the upper respiratory tract have loss of taste and smell too.

These include the common cold and influenza (flu).

People with allergies can also experience them, especially during spring when there is a lot of pollen in the air.

These symptoms usually reverse themselves in a couple of weeks or so.

There are also many other causes for loss of taste and smell, especially among older people.

These can be caused by trauma to the head, neurodegenerative diseases and nasal polyps.

For Covid-19, we are talking about a sudden loss of taste and smell, especially during this pandemic period.

Sure, it can be due to other causes. But it pays to be safe, rather than sorry, during this time, especially as the MCO is being relaxed.

Many countries have observed another spike of cases when movement restriction orders have been lifted.

So what other unusual symptoms of Covid-19 should I look out for?

Well, there are skin rashes and Covid toes.

Doctors have noticed that some Covid-19 patients develop skin rashes; these are fairly common in many viral infections.

No one knows yet if these rashes are associated with the virus infection itself or the immune response stimulated by the virus in patients.

Some of these rashes cover the patient from head to toe.

Some patients have rashes that look like hives (allergic rashes), while others have rashes that look like blisters (think chicken pox).

Yet others have lacy, purplish rashes spreading across large patches of skin.

This type of rash is one to look out for as they are an indicator that the patient might develop clotting problems as a complication during the course of the disease – we call this a prognostic factor.

Meanwhile, Covid toes are red, tender bumps that appear around the patient’s toes and heels.

Tell me more about Covid toes.

There is a condition called pernio, which is also known as chilblains.

Malaysians don’t see it often because chilblains are a reaction you get to extremely cold temperatures, which we do not encounter in our weather.

Covid toes are very much like pernio, but the patients who develop them have not been exposed to cold at all.

The bumps can be red or purple, and can also appear on the hands.

It may be accompanied by a burning sensation and pain, along with tenderness.

These bumps usually go away in two to three weeks.

They also tend to appear in younger Covid-19 patients.

Unlike the spreading purple rash, Covid toes do not seem to be an indicator that the patient is going to do worse.

Naturally, other conditions can also cause pernio, but it plays to be safe during this pandemic period, so do consult your doctor or a dermatologist if you develop this symptom.

What other unusual symptoms are there?

There is the one involving your intestines.

This happens because the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 binds to your body cells using a receptor called ACE-2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2).

These receptors can be found in both your lung cells and your intestinal cells.

Also see: Multiple organs can be affected in Covid-19 patients

Dr YLM graduated as a medical doctor, and has been writing for many years on various subjects such as medicine, health, computers and entertainment. For further information, email [e-mail]. The information contained in this column is for general educational purposes only. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.