Volume 34, Issue 2 e14788
REVIEW ARTICLE

Maculopapular skin eruptions associated with Covid-19: A systematic review

Saad Shams

Saad Shams

Internal Medicine, Ross University School of Medicine, Miramar, Florida, USA

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Sawai Singh Rathore

Corresponding Author

Sawai Singh Rathore

Internal Medicine, Dr. Sampurnanand Medical College, Jodhpur, India

Correspondence

Sawai Singh Rathore, Medical student, Dr. Sampurnanand Medical College, Shastri Nagar, Residency Road, Jodhpur, India.

Email: [email protected]

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Priyanka Anvekar

Priyanka Anvekar

Internal Medicine, MGM Medical College and Hospital, Aurangabad, India

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Manush Sondhi

Manush Sondhi

Internal Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India

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Neeraj Kancherla

Neeraj Kancherla

Internal Medicine, Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, India

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Sohaib Tousif

Sohaib Tousif

Internal Medicine, Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan

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Gianpier Alonzo Rojas

Gianpier Alonzo Rojas

Internal Medicine, School of medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

Scientific Society of Medical Students, Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

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Noman Khurshid Ahmed

Noman Khurshid Ahmed

Internal Medicine, Dow Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan

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Mehwish Munawwar

Mehwish Munawwar

Internal Medicine, Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry, Karachi, Pakistan

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Muhammad Noman

Muhammad Noman

Internal Medicine, Ziauddin Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan

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First published: 22 January 2021
Citations: 21

Abstract

In this systematic review, we anticipated in summarizing clinical features, histopathological hallmarks, and possible pathology behind the maculopapular skin eruptions occurring in Covid-19 patients. A literature search was executed using MEDLINE/PubMed and Embase databases for articles published till 20 November 2020. All eligible articles including observational studies, case reports, and case series reporting the maculopapular skin lesion in Covid-19 patients were included. Data were obtained for 354 Covid-19 patients presenting with maculopapular lesions from 40 studies. The mean age of these patients was 53 years, and with 42% of them being male. These maculopapular lesions differed considerably in terms of distribution and appearance, ranging from diffuse erythematous maculopapular lesions to scattered erythematous macules coalescing into papules to maculopapular lesions in plaques. The mean duration of the lesion was 8 days. These lesions were frequently localized on trunks and extremities. Superficial perivascular dermatitis with lymphocytic infiltrate was a histopathological hallmark of these lesions. As these skin lesions may have a possible association with diagnosis, management, prognosis, and severity of the disease, all health practitioners need to be well acquainted with these Covid-19 skin lesions. Also, in the middle of this worldwide pandemic, early identification of this eruption may help manage this infection's further spread.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available within the article, in the reference list. The data that support the findings of this study are available from thecorresponding author upon reasonable request.

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