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. 2021 Jun;1(2):e20.
doi: 10.1002/ski2.20. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

A systematic review of dermatologic manifestations among adult patients with COVID-19 diagnosis

L N Schwartzberg  1 , S Advani  2 , D C Clancy  1 , A Lin  3 , J L Jorizzo  4   5
Affiliations

A systematic review of dermatologic manifestations among adult patients with COVID-19 diagnosis

L N Schwartzberg et al. Skin Health Dis. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Infection with COVID-19 is characterized by respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurologic symptoms. However, limited evidence exists of the involvement of the integumentary system among COVID-19 patients and evidence suggests that these symptoms may even be the first presenting sign.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the literature published on dermatologic signs of COVID-19 in order to educate doctors about the dermatologic signs of COVID-19 infection.

Methods: Lit COVID, World Health Organization COVID-19 database and PubMed were searched using terminology to identify adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection and dermatologic manifestations of disease. The last search was completed on 13 July 2020.

Results: There were 802 reports found. After exclusion, 20 articles were found with 347 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection. Within these articles, 27 different skin signs were reported.

Limitations: Limitations of this review include the recency of COVID-19 infection; so, there are limited published reports and that many reports are not by dermatologists, and so, the cutaneous signs may be misdiagnosed or misdescribed.

Conclusion: Dermatologic manifestations of COVID-19 may be the first presenting sign of infection; so, dermatologists and doctors examining the skin should be aware of the virus's influence on the integumentary system in order to promptly diagnose and treat the infected patients.

Keywords: evidence‐based dermatology; infection; virology.

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Conflict of interest statement

No conflict of interests have been declared.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
PRISMA Flow Diagram
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Frequency of Cutaneous Findings Illustrated in Their Common Anatomic Locations
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Percent of Skin Findings per Anatomic Location
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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