Acute Urticaria as the First Symptom of COVID-19: A Case Report

Abstract

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, various rashes associated with COVID-19 infection have been reported, including urticaria. Urticaria is a limited and usually benign condition, presenting as pruritic wheals, with or without edema. A 39-year-old woman presented with a pruritic rash on her arms spreading to her trunk and face over two days, followed by headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, myalgia, arthralgia, anosmia, and dyspepsia for three days. Fever, dry cough, and odynophagia started on the day of the consult. The patient had a history of hypertension but denied a history of atopic conditions, similar previous presentations, or recent ingestion of new medications. SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 PCR testing was positive. She was prescribed oral antihistamine for the itching and was discharged. During a follow-up after two weeks, the patient was asymptomatic with complete resolution of the rash on day 7 of symptoms. Knowing the cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 can aid in the early identification of this disease and prevent misdiagnosis. The presence of cutaneous manifestations in COVID-19 is suggested to be related to disease severity, but data are needed to study any prognostic value of dermatologic manifestations in COVID-19.