One in five with Covid-19 in Italy had same symptom – MyLondon

New data from Italy has revealed a symptom of Covid-19 that could be much more common than previously thought.

Anyone with a new, persistent, dry cough and a fever has been warned from the start of the outbreak that they could have the novel coronavirus.

And a number of other symptoms have emerged including blue lips and extremities, a loss of taste and smell and eye pain.

Now new data from Italy has revealed that one in five people hospitalised with Covid-19 had a new, raised red rash and unexplained marks on the skin.

The data also revealed that in some of the cases, it could be the only or first sign of contracting the virus, according to the Daily Star.

Diarrhoea, a sore throat and aches and pains can also indicate that a person has been infected, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr Veronique Bataille, an NHS consultant dermatologist, said: "I have seen quite a few patients who dont normally suffer from eczema or allergies who have a sudden, odd rash.

"Then, maybe two or three days later, they have developed typical Covid-19 symptoms.

"For some patients, we believe a rash may be the only symptom that they get."

Dr Bataille continued: "The public should look out for this and other possible symptoms in members of their household."

It comes after a study of 88 patients taken at Lecco Hospital in Lombardy, one of the hardest-hit Italian regions, found that 20% of them experienced changes to their skin.

It was recorded that none of them had taken drugs that could have caused the reaction.

Eight of the 18 patients who did notice a difference in their skin did so at the beginning of their symptoms.

Professor Hywel Williams, co-director of the centre of evidence-based dermatology at the University of Nottingham, explained why you should look for changes in your skin.

He said: "The skin is the largest organ in the body and its visible.

"So if you are very unwell, and your lungs are sick, its not surprising really that the skin reacts in some way in about a fifth of cases."

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One in five with Covid-19 in Italy had same symptom - MyLondon