COVID toes, a skin problem that leads to swelling and redness on the hands and feet, may be a side effect of the immune system’s response to the virus, a new study suggests.

The symptom often manifests within one to four weeks of infection and might cause swollen or reddish fingers and toes.

While some people experience symptoms for only a few days, others experience them for months at a time. The disease was first linked to the virus in December last year.

The study, which was published in the British Journal of Dermatology, included 50 people with COVID toes and 13 with identical chilblains lesions that appeared before the pandemic.

They determined that two parts of the immune system may be to blame for the symptoms that arise as the body battles the infection.

The first is an anti-viral protein known as type 1 interferon, and the second is an antibody that incorrectly identifies and reacts with a person’s own cells and tissues as well as the invading virus.

Cells lining blood arteries supplying the affected area appear to be important in the development of COVID toes and chilblains.

Dr. Charles Cassius, the study’s senior author, stated that the findings provided a better knowledge of the illness.

“The epidemiology and clinical features of chilblain-like lesions have been extensively studied and published, however, little are known about the pathophysiology involved,” he said.

“Our study provides new insights.”

Image Credit: Getty

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