key: cord-0903100-p9zyaq9y
authors: Skayem, C; Cassius, C; Ben Kahla, M; Fiani, C; Frumholtz, L; Mrad, M; Petit, A; Zuelgaray, E; Bagot, M; Bouaziz, JD; Duong, TA
title: Teledermatology for COVID‐19 cutaneous lesions: substitute or supplement?
date: 2020-05-18
journal: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol
DOI: 10.1111/jdv.16630
sha: 184f1709105a9590eaaa24bb4018c8e68bd6de38
doc_id: 903100
cord_uid: p9zyaq9y

In the context of COVID‐19 pandemic, teledermatology is being favored over in‐person consultation in order to avoid the possibility of virus transmission(1). In France, COVID‐19 wasn't known to cause cutaneous manifestations before April 6(th) 2020, when an alert about possible associated skin symptoms was raised to the general public and the professional social network(2–4). We aimed to assess the impact of alerting about COVID‐associated lesions on the activity of urgent teledermatology (TD) and the activity of dermatologic emergencies unit (DEU) of two university hospitals during this pandemic.

In the context of COVID-19 pandemic, teledermatology is being favored over in-person consultation in order to avoid the possibility of virus transmission 1 . In France, COVID-19 wasn't known to cause cutaneous manifestations before April 6 th 2020, when an alert about possible associated skin symptoms was raised to the general public and the professional social network [2] [3] [4] . We aimed to assess the impact of alerting about COVID-associated lesions on the activity of urgent teledermatology (TD) and the activity of dermatologic emergencies unit (DEU) of two university hospitals during this pandemic.

This study was conducted between March 30 th and April 10 th 2020. These two institutions provide urgent consultations via a DEU and a store-and-forward teledermatology, between dermatologists and other health-care professionals, with rapid responses. All consultations in the DEU and urgent TD were retrieved, and the number of consultations for suspicious COVID-associated lesions and non-COVID lesions were collected before and after the alert. For TD cases, the suspicion was made by the referring physician. For the DEU cases, the suspicion was made by the patients after having heard about the possible COVID-19 associated lesions through the media. For both groups DEU and TD, the number of cases, the mean consultation per day, and the proportion of suspicious COVIDassociated lesions per day, before and after the alert, were compared. Finally, the type of possible COVID-associated lesions, after the dermatologists' evaluation, were described.

The number of patients in both groups, before and after the signal, is seen in figures 1 and 2. Among teledermatology consultations, before and after the alert, the proportions of the cases for suspicious COVID-associated lesions are 2/65 (3%) and 89/182 (48.9%), respectively (p<10 -3 ). Moreover, the mean number of consultations per day, before and after the alert, increased from 9.28±1.36 to 36.4±2.52, respectively (p=0.007). Among DEU consultations, neither the proportions of the cases for suspicious COVID-associated lesions [3/46 (6.5%) and 9/66 (13.6%), respectively], nor the mean number of consultations (6.5±1.1 and 13.2±1.86, respectively) significantly differed before and after the alert (p=0.35, p=1) . After a dermatologic evaluation, 80 patients in total had possible COVIDassociated lesions: mostly chilblains (58/80), vasculitic lesions (6/80), morbilliform rash (5/80), pityriasis-rosea-like lesions (3/80), and urticaria (3/80).

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved COVID-associated cutaneous signs were mainly described in pauci-symptomatic patients for COVID-19 2,5,6 . The alert on possible COVID-associated cutaneous signs did not modify the activity of DEUs, but there was a significant increase in urgent TD's activity. During the pandemic period, TD can thus act as a substitute of face-to-face visits to limit virus transmission in outpatients, whereas in normal settings, it is considered as a supplement to standard dermatological care 7 . As most of COVIDassociated lesions are considered mild and can be diagnosed and managed without in-person visits, TD can be efficient for managing non-COVID as well as COVID-related skin conditions and reassuring patients through their primary care physicians. In a period where lockdown is among essential keys for COVID-19 control, COVID patients might not have to consult in-person for their skin lesions.

In conclusion, teledermatology is a weapon that dermatologists should use to play their indispensable role in controlling this pandemic.

Dermatology practices as vectors for COVID-19 transmission: A call for immediate cessation of nonemergent dermatology visits

Cutaneous manifestations in COVID-19: a first perspective