Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Dermatologic Presentations of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children: Assessment of Rash Frequency and Related Factors

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Saeedeh Parvaresh 1
Sajad Ghazanfari 2
Reza Sinaei 3
Ali Hosseininasab 4
Mohammad Ali Jafari 5
Zahra Jamali 1
Mohammad Hasannejad 6
Sarehossadat Ebrahimi 1
Elham Maleki 3
Shahryar Eslami 7
Maryam Gholami 1
Fatemeh Karami Robati 8
Rezvan Amiri 9
Maedeh Jafari 1

1 Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

2 Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

4 Department of Pediatrics, School of medicine; Infectious and Tropical Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

5 Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad ‎University, Tehran, Iran

6 Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, Iran

7 Department of Pediatrics, School of medicine; Research Center for Hydatid Disease, Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

8 Clinical Research Development Unit, Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

9 Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

https://doi.org/10.34172/jkmu.4106
Abstract
Introduction: Rash is a common complaint in children and may have diverse etiologies. Therefore, its differential diagnosis can be extensive. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and rash in children with suspected COVID-19 clinical symptoms.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated the frequency of COVID-19 and skin rash in children with clinical symptoms associated with COVID-19 referred to Besat Clinic and Afzalipour Hospital, in Kerman, in 2020. To check for COVID-19 infection, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was performed by nasopharyngeal swab. A 1-mL blood sample was sent to the lab to be tested for immunoglobulin-M (IgM) and IgG serology using Pishtaz Teb Company’s ELISA kits. To analyze the data, descriptive (prevalence, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and analytical (independent samples t-test) statistics were used. The analyses were performed by SPSS software version 26.
Results: In this study, 107 children with skin rash and positive PCR test results for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) were included. Boys accounted for 62.4% of the sample. The symptoms most observed in the children were cough, diarrhea, and vomiting, in descending order of prevalence. Examination of skin manifestations showed that 16.8% of children had skin rash. In 1.9% of children, skin itching was present. There was no significant difference in the serum levels of IgM and IgG between patients with skin rash and without skin rash (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: In this study, 16.8% of children had skin rash, and 1.9% had itchy skin. Cutaneous involvement is helpful in clinical decision-making, as well as designing health literacy tools.

Keywords

COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
Skin rash
Epidemiology
Children
Subjects
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Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Volume 33
Pages 1-6

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