My dd (12) has covid toe!

[HelenDrinkwater]

She had no symptoms of Covid, ever. Not even a cold since last winter. It's affecting three toes at the moment, she says they're very painful, doesn't want to wear shoes. Not sure how we're going to cope on Monday!

Has anyone else experienced this? How long did it last? How did you treat it? GP just suggested paracetamol.

I don't think it's actually just kids that get it I had it for about a month but was very minor then few weeks later partner came out with the same purple bits on his toes that lasted a few months!

Smartiecake, looks like a severe case of chilblains, they can blister and also be pustular. Have you tried Balmosa or similar? Also keeping the feet warm at all times. Might provide some relief, does take a while to recede though.

@smartiecake, so, there was an ‘infected’ big toe in December. He had antibiotics but I’m not sure that they made that much difference. The toe was red and puffy for weeks afterwards and the marks are still visible if you are looking for them. This could be part of this issue or could be totally coincidental.

The scaly toe first went purple about 4 weeks ago, approximately 2 weeks after another toe went purple (total of 3 at that point). He has two further toes that have been red and splotchy in the interim.

It’s all very curious. Regarding sedentary lifestyle mentioned above: he’s not particularly sedentary and has been at school part time since January anyway.

@WowIlikereallyhateyou we saw the family GP about the toes and he thought not chilblains, or at least he didn’t think they looked like chilblains. He didn’t diagnose as anything, said keep an eye and let him know if it doesn’t clear up.

Flamingo, remember with chilblains you wouldn’t get ALL of the symptoms, many people only get the discomfort,peeling,blisters and discolouration. The increase has been linked to more sedentary lifestyle and sudden change in lifestyle, which nobody has escaped.

Well it's a change from I've got long covid anyway

Sure, but I took him to the GP to check that these were chilblains and so that I could basically ignore them and carry on (and to rule out anything sinister he might be worried about). And he was quite adamant that they weren’t.

Flamingo, if i had a £1 for every gp who doesn’t have a clue about feet, i would be a rich woman! They seem to be petrified of feet for some reason.

@WowIlikereallyhateyou

Foot specialist here, covid toe and chilblians can look similar, BUT, they are very different in that you will find chilblains in only a few toes, but covid toe covers most toes. With all due respect to Dr, most of them know nothing about footcare. What you described to me is chilblains, and I have seen a huge increase in cases this year due to the extremes in temperature we have experienced weather wise. Put some warm socks on patient, no extremes of temp ie hot baths etc, warm up the feet gradually, creams like Balmosa will help. If its three toes it is extremely unlikely to be covid toe.

Good to read your post. Ds had it on one toe. At no point did I even consider covid toe. It was chilblains and cleared up after about 3 weeks. I got thicker socks for him as he doesn't wear shoes indoors and the floor tiles wouldn't be warm. I just put some bepanthen antiseptic on it, though not sure it helped. When we were kids there was a specific cream for it. We would have had them regularly.

Notaroadrunner, it was probably Snowfire that you used ,a good old fashioned product i still recommend.

I thought a lot of covid toes cases were actually put down to an increase in sedentary lifestyle in children? I think its more likely to be chilblains tbh

A lot of these pictures look like chilblains or athletes foot tbh

DishedUp, yup, you are spot on.

Another vote for chilblains

I get chilblains in the house, but I have Raynaud's Syndrome though. All the pics posted look like normal, boring chilblains to me. I wouldn't be bothering doctors or podiatrists with this at all, because they clear up on their own. They can crack and bleed and they itch like mad (one of the other posters was worried about her child with the cracking - so just to say that is unfortunately what happens with chilblains sometimes). I hope everyone's feet are better soon!

My daughter has this. She kept telling me she had a bite on her toe periodically. It turned out to be covid toe and she has had it for months now. Hoping it disappears soon.

I am aghast at all these keyboard medics thinking they know better than the qualified GP!

@WowIlikereallyhateyou
We have brulidine cream from the pharmacist. I didn't think it looked like any chilblain images but i have never had it so don't know. I don't think its athletes foot as there are no obvious symptoms other than the blisters

@Flamingolingo
DS's toes haven't changed colour or swollen its just these blisters. But DS2 has had one swollen red toe!

So many people with purple toes....who knew!

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-52493574

@Tippytaps

I am aghast at all these keyboard medics thinking they know better than the qualified GP!

Covid denial comes in many forms! It is everywhere, including not accepting a doctor's diagnosis.

It's more likely to be covid toe if you've had a previous positive test result. It's been linked to positive tests but generally occurs after the infection has past. It is mostly in children, teenagers and young adults. The rashes can leave a lace pattern afterwards.

It does look like chilblains. I think covid toe is more reddish purple, may be pussy and long lasting whereas chilblains is more reddish to dark blue, are generally more painful and clear up faster (2-3 weeks).

@WowIlikereallyhateyou I am in awe of how patient you are being . You are a good person.

This is so interesting. My daughter has had 3 purple/red toes for months. Occasionally they get little dry bits of skin on them that peel, sometimes they each, sometimes hurt, occasionally look a bit blistery. Can't believe all these children with similar complaints. The Gp said it wasn't chilblains. Didn't really know what it was though.

@Posyc sounds identical to whatever is going on on my child’s foot. Does seem to be prevalent whatever it is!