Many of us are aware of the main symptoms of COVID-19. However, since the start of the pandemic in 2020, a number of lesser-known side effects have continued to emerge.
According to health experts, this can include a bizarre warning sign on the toes. The alert comes as Coronavirus cases are on the rise with more than 440 acute hospital admissions due to Covid-19 in the last week of June, new figures showed.
The World Health Organisation officially announced that the Covid outbreak was no longer considered a public health emergency in 2023, however, the virus has not gone away.
In fact, a number of new variants and subvariants of coronavirus have recently sparked concern across the globe.
Increasing infection rates have been linked to the FLiRT strains KP2 and JN1 and health authorities are also tracking two additional variants, branded FLuQE and de-FLiRT.
These have been blamed for a current surge of cases in Australia, where Covid has become the third leading cause of death for the first time in 50 years due to an infectious disease.
The FLuQE variant is also rapidly spreading in the US, while the UK has seen a 12 percent rise in Covid cases in the most recent week reported by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
In response some UK hospitals have reinstated mask mandates.
Commenting on the FLuQE variant, also known as KP.3, Adrian Esterman – a biostatistician from the University of South Australia – told SBS News: “KP.3 is already dominating in the US, and rapidly increasing in Australia.”
And Professor Paul Griffin, an infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist from the University of Queensland, said: “We’re sicker than usual this winter and we’re seeing a lot of things circulated simultaneously.
“That means a very significant proportion of the population is infected or has recently been infected.”
Covid toes
The NHS still lists all the usual symptoms as signs of a Covid infection.
These include a cough, temperature, shortness of breath, headache, loss of taste or smell and fatigue among others.
But some health bodies have also warned of a phenomenon known as “Covid toes”.
This is used to describe when a person’s toes become swollen and darker in colour.
According to the Mayo Clinic, in the US, this is more common in teenagers and young adults and can also occur in the fingers.
And the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) notes that those affected often don’t display any other symptoms and if they do they are usually mild.
The AAD explains: “Many people don’t feel anything and only realise that they have COVID toes when they see the discolouration and swelling on their feet (or hands).
“Along with the swelling and discoloration, Covid toes can also cause blisters, itch, or pain.
“Some people develop painful raised bumps or areas of rough skin.”
The toes may turn pink, red or purple, the AAD says. And patients may also notice pus under the skin.
Although there are no longer any self isolation rules the NHS still recommends staying home and avoiding contact with others for five days if you think you have Covid.
