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Published on: May 22, 2020
1 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Corona Virus In Young Patients And Kids

Kids seem to be relatively unaffected by COVID, but this does not mean they are invulnerable. As with adults, some children have pre-existing cardiac, respiratory, or metabolic conditions, and are therefore more vulnerable to the effects of COVID. Interestingly, children appear to have one more symptom when infected with coronavirus – COVID Toes.

I personally came across this phenomenon recently, with a young patient asymptomatic for COVID who presented with unusual symptoms of dark bruises on his toes. This had been present for just a few days. He did not have any pain, itching, swelling, no recent trauma, or injury to the feet. Circulation to his feet was normal, with no other rashes or skin changes, no other abnormal features in the history to note. It was certainly an odd presentation and certainly could have been an example of COVID toes.

This new phenomenon was noticed in April and has not gained as much notoriety because it is fairly rare compared to the major COVID symptoms, such as fever, cough, and lethargy. Doctors have described lesions on the feet of young people, usually purple-colored, around the tips of the toes. They have been compared to chilblains, painful swellings on feet, and toes that appear in the cold. Similarly to chilblains they do not cause any permanent damage and usually regress in days to weeks.

It's not clear why they occur or the mechanism behind the discoloration, because the presentation is rare and in healthy patients. We know COVID can cause systemic inflammation and can increase the risk of clot formation. It may be that localized inflammation is occurring in the toes, causing the vessels to clamp down and reduce blood flow to the area. This is similar to the mechanism for chilblains forming in the foot. Micro-clotting could also be partially responsible for this phenomenon.

COVID Toes is not the only skin symptoms related to COVID. In a paper published in the British Journal of Dermatology, researchers described five common skin presentations in 375 COVID patients. These were:

Asymmetrical chilblain like lesions in the hands and feet, found in younger patients lasting up to 2 weeks.
Small itchy blisters in the trunk and limbs, found in middle-aged patients before they present with symptoms, lasting about 10 days
Pink or white areas of raised skin, itchy, usually on the body
Raised bumps called macropapules, lasting about a week, seen in more severe infections.
Mottled, blotchy red-blue skin (known as livedo) seen in patients with severe illness.

So if you are currently suffering from COVID or have recently recovered from an infection, and suddenly notice odd colored toes, you too may have a case of COVID toes.

Dr Rajan Choudhary, UK, Chief Product Officer, Second Medic Inc

www.secondmedic.com

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Weekly Health Roundup Newsletter: India’s Trusted Source for Preventive Wellness Insights

Health information today is abundant, but not always reliable. With countless articles, social media trends, home remedies and conflicting opinions, individuals often struggle to separate credible medical advice from misinformation. This challenge becomes especially significant in India, where rising lifestyle diseases, nutritional gaps and limited public health awareness create a pressing need for accurate guidance.

The Weekly Health Roundup Newsletter by SecondMedic addresses this gap by offering a clear, expert-driven and accessible summary of everything people need to know about their health each week. Designed for families, patients, caregivers and wellness-focused readers, it transforms medical updates into practical, everyday insights.

Why India Needs a Weekly Health Roundup

1. Growing Lifestyle Disease Burden

ICMR and NFHS-5 highlight significant increases in:

Diabetes
Heart disease
Thyroid disorders
Obesity
PCOS

A weekly educational resource empowers individuals to make preventive choices before complications arise.

2. Overload of Health Information

Millions of Indians rely on social media for health advice, leading to confusion and misinformation.
A curated newsletter ensures accuracy.

3. Rising Interest in Preventive Healthcare

People want to understand their bodies better, track health metrics and adopt healthier lifestyles.
The newsletter provides guidance supported by medical evidence.

4. Technological Growth in Healthcare

AI-based tools, wearables and digital monitoring are reshaping healthcare.
Readers learn how to use them effectively.

What the Weekly Health Roundup Covers

• Medical Research Summaries

Digestible versions of new findings from:

ICMR
WHO
Lancet
NITI Aayog
Global medical journals

• Nutrition and Lifestyle Guidance

Includes:

Balanced diets
Myth-busting
Portion control
Affordable nutrition ideas for Indian households

• Chronic Disease Management Tips

Expert insights on:

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Heart health
Blood pressure
Hormonal disorders

• Mental Wellbeing

Stress reduction, emotional resilience and sleep optimisation tips.

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Simple routines, mobility tips, strength guidance and step-based activity recommendations.

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Information on:

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Heatwaves
Monsoon infections
Viral outbreaks

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Guidance on:

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Teleconsultation benefits
Remote monitoring

How SecondMedic Ensures Accuracy and Quality

Expert Verification

Doctors, nutritionists, physiotherapists and mental health specialists review every issue.

Evidence-Based Approach

Content uses:

Peer-reviewed studies
Real-world health data
National and global guidelines

Personalised Relevance

Topics are selected based on what Indian families most commonly search, ask or struggle with.

Preventive Care Focus

Instead of addressing illness alone, the newsletter promotes long-term lifestyle improvement.

How Readers Benefit

1. Improved Health Literacy

People understand conditions earlier and seek help at the right time.

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The newsletter offers:

Simple diet swaps
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By recognizing symptoms and risk patterns, individuals can prevent complications.

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Readers learn how AI health guides and wearables support monitoring and early intervention.

5. Family-Centered Wellness

Content is relevant to:

Children
Working adults
Elderly individuals
Chronic disease patients

Example Weekly Topics

A sample edition may include:

"New Findings on Vitamin D Deficiency in Indian Adults"
"How to Interpret Your Blood Sugar Patterns"
"5 AI Tools That Improve Home Health Monitoring"
"Early Signs of Heart Disease You Shouldn’t Ignore"
"Preventive Care Checklist for Busy Professionals"

Conclusion

The Weekly Health Roundup Newsletter is more than just a health update-it is a practical wellness companion. With expert insights, scientific clarity and personalised relevance, it empowers people across India to make smarter health decisions every week.

By turning complex medical knowledge into everyday guidance, SecondMedic strengthens India’s preventive healthcare movement one newsletter at a time.

References

• ICMR - Lifestyle Disease Burden & Research Updates
• NFHS-5 - National Health Indicators & Wellness Trends
• NITI Aayog - Digital Health & Preventive Care Framework
• WHO - Global Wellness & Preventive Healthcare Guidelines
• Lancet - Public Health Research & Behaviour Studies
• Statista India - Digital Health Usage & Reader Behaviour
• EY-FICCI - Health Awareness & Preventive Care Landscape

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