© Our Dermatol Online 2.2021 200
Our Dermatology Online
How to cite this article: Oujidi Y, Housni B. A febrile exanthem revealing COVID-19. Our Dermatol Online. 2021;12(2):200-201.
Submission: 08.09.2020; Acceptance: 10.01.2021
DOI: 10.7241/ourd.20212.27
A febrile exanthem revealing COVID-19 A febrile exanthem revealing COVID-19
Younes Oujidi, Brahim Housni
Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Mohammed VI University Hospital of Oujda- Medical School of Oujda,
Mohammed First University of Oujda, Morocco
Corresponding author: Younes Oujidi, MD, E-mail: younesoujidi@gmail.com
Sir,
We report the case of a 74-year-old male with no
previous medical history admitted to the emergency
department for an acute itchy febrile generalized
rash present for the last three days. The patient
reported no recent history of drug ingestion. A clinical
examination revealed a generalized maculopapular
exanthem (Figs. 1 and 2) and a fever of 39°C. There
was no hypotension or respiratory symptoms. RT-PCR
for SARS-CoV-2 was positive and serology revealed
positive IgM and negative IgG. Normal paraclinical
examinations and a thoracic CT scan revealed that
10% of the lesions were CO-RADS 6.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, numerous have
authors described skin manifestations associated
with COVID-19, including morbilliform and
roseoliform exanthems [1], maculopapular rashes on
the face, generalized hives [2,3], and rashes such as
chickenpox [4-5], but erythema multiforme and purpuric
rashes [6] have also been reported in the scientific
literature [7] and in medical social networks [8]. These
eruptions are, indeed, known to be associated with viral
infections and are commonly referred to as viral rashes
or paraviruses. However, they are not specific to SARS-
CoV-2 and may also lie in other causes, especially in
drugs. Patients affected by COVID-19 are, indeed, likely
to develop unwanted responses to drugs administered
for infections (including carrying drugs and anti-
infectives) causing secondary skin reactions at any time
during the evolution of the disease.
Consent
The examination of the patient was conducted according to the
principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient
consent forms, in which the patients gave their consent for images
and other clinical information to be included in the journal. The
patients understand that their names and initials will not be
published and due effort will be made to conceal their identity,
but that anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Letter to the Editor
Figure 1: An exanthem on the right lateral aspect of the thorax and
abdomen.
Figure 2: An exanthem on the anterior aspect of the thorax.