British scientists have found unusual symptoms they have linked to long Covid, and urged more awareness of the previously unidentified association so that clinicians can diagnose and manage it appropriately when they encounter it.
Though most people who contract Covid recover within a few days or weeks, some can experience longer, more persistent symptoms like extreme tiredness, loss of smell, muscle aches and shortness of breath. Others include memory problems, chest pain, insomnia, heart palpitations, dizziness, joint pain, tinnitus and depression and anxiety.
But the recent findings by the University of Leeds team revealed a previously unidentified symptom of long Covid, reports The Independent.
Published in The Lancet, the research detailed a new symptom of the condition after a 33-year-old man was referred to the specialists’ clinic.
He had a six-month history of a “rapid purple discolouration” on his legs. When standing, he remarked that they would feel progressively heavier and become “tingly, itchy and dusky” in colour.
A rash would occasionally appear on his feet, but the mysterious symptoms would disappear when he was lying down.
The disorder is known as acrocyanosis or persistent and extreme blue or cyanotic discolouration. It typically occurs in the hands and feet but can also appear across the nose and ears.
“This was a striking case of acrocyanosis in a patient who had not experienced it before his Covid-19 infection,” said co-author Dr Manoj Sivan, associate clinical professor and honorary consultant in rehabilitation medicine at the University of Leeds.
“Patients experiencing this may not be aware that it can be a symptom of long Covid and dysautonomia, and may feel concerned about what they are seeing. Similarly, clinicians may not be aware of the link between acrocyanosis and long Covid.
“There needs to be more awareness of dysautonomia (malfunctioning of the nervous system) in long Covid so clinicians can manage patients appropriately.”
The Lancet article – Venous insufficiency and acrocyanosis in long COVID: dysautonomia (Open access)
The Independent article – Mysterious new long Covid symptom identified by scientists (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
US agency launches ‘overdue’ long Covid clinical trials
Long Covid’s impact on life quality worse than some cancers – UK study
UK analysis confirms risk factors for long Covid