An outbreak of acute hemorrhagic papules on the posterior neck in children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Allison SmithIngrid C PolcariSheilagh M MaguinessChristina BoullPublished in: Pediatric dermatology (2020)
Within a two-week timespan in April 2020, multiple children presented with hemorrhagic macules, papules, and erosions localized to the posterior neck and occipital scalp. All of these patients were children of health care workers, with at least one confirmed COVID-19 exposure. The unique lesional morphology and the timing of onset led to SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing for all and biopsy of one child. Biopsy ultimately confirmed these lesions were consistent with arthropod bites, which coincided with an unprecedented surge in local populations of Simulium tuberosum, a biting gnat.