Febrile Morbilliform Rash as a Clinical Presentation of COVID-19 in a Pediatric Patient

Abstract

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in January 2020 resulted in a worldwide public health emergency. While the pediatric age group currently includes no more than 2% of the population diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the clinical manifestations in this cohort can range from upper respiratory tract symptoms to respiratory system and multiorgan failure. Interestingly, most of the pediatric COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic at the time of presentation. As such, the full clinical spectrum of this disease remains unknown. We describe here the case of a previously healthy 16-month-old boy who presented with a three-day history of febrile morbilliform exanthematous rash associated with confirmed COVID-19 infection. This case presentation serves to expand our knowledge base with respect to the diverse presentations of this highly contagious illness, particularly among pediatric patients. We recommend maintaining a high index of suspicion when evaluating children who present with rash and fever during the current pandemic of COVID-19.

Int J Clin Pediatr. 2020;9(4):135-137
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/ijcp408