Onychomadesis in a COVID-19 patient

Wien Med Wochenschr. 2023 Sep;173(11-12):272-275. doi: 10.1007/s10354-022-00988-1. Epub 2022 Nov 28.

Abstract

We report the case of a 67-year-old woman who developed onychomadesis on 9 of her fingers 2 months after recovering from COVID-19, with subsequent full nail regrowth after 4 months. The development of onychomadesis in COVID-19 is probably related to inhibition of nail proliferation due to fever, direct viral damage, or an inflammatory process associated with endothelial damage and obliterative microangiopathy in the nail matrix area. Clinicians should be aware of nail changes and actively seek them out in patients with COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Nail changes; Onychomadesis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Female
  • Fever
  • Fingers
  • Humans
  • Nail Diseases* / diagnosis