The mystery of the COVID toes - turning evidence-based medicine on its head

J Foot Ankle Res. 2020 Jun 23;13(1):38. doi: 10.1186/s13047-020-00408-w.

Abstract

The recent and rapid emergence of COVID-19 infection has led to a flood of publications describing all aspects of the disease and its presentation. The appearance of chilblain-like lesions, in children and young adults has particularly caught the attention of healthcare professionals with an interest in the foot. With such a novel infection, demand for information is high at a time when evidence is scarce. Consequently, there has been a renaissance in the publication of case studies. This type of research, previously relegated from many mainstream journals, as a low level source of evidence, has permitted the rapid reporting, publication and dissemination of much needed clinical data which can be used as a foundation to inform further research and investigations about a new global infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; Case study; Evidence based medicine.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections* / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections* / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections* / physiopathology
  • Coronavirus Infections* / therapy
  • Disease Management
  • Evidence-Based Medicine* / methods
  • Evidence-Based Medicine* / trends
  • Foot Diseases / epidemiology
  • Foot Diseases / therapy
  • Humans
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / physiopathology
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / therapy
  • Publications / trends*
  • Research Design / trends*
  • SARS-CoV-2