New long Covid symptom identified – as cases of fast-spreading Eris variant rise

COVID is leaving a trail of patients suffering debilitating symptoms months after initial infection.

The condition, dubbed ‘long Covid’, commonly causes chronic fatigue and physical pain.

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Over two million adults in England may be suffering from the illness, studies have claimed.

The most commonly identified signs include extreme tiredness, loss of smell, muscle aches and shortness of breath.

But now, a new symptom has been revealed by scientists.

It comes as another new Covid variant called Eris is sweeping the UK.

World Health Organisation officials say there is no suggestion the sub-variant is causing more severe disease – but it is more contagious.

The research, published in The Lancet medical journal, detailed a new symptom of the condition after a 33-year-old man was referred to a specialists’ clinic.

The patient had a six-month history of what the authors describe as a “rapid purple discolouration” on his legs.

When standing, his legs would feel progressively heavier and become “tingly, itchy and dusky” in colour.

He would also develop a rash on his feet that would only disappear if he sat down.

The condition, known as acrocyanosis, typically occurs in the hands and feet, but can also emerge across the nose and ears.

It happens when there’s not enough oxygen in your blood in that part of the body, or you have poor blood circulation.

The condition is not harmful, the NHS says.

Co-author, Dr Manoj Sivan, of the University of Leeds, said this was a particularly “striking” case of acrocyanosis.

“Patients experiencing this may not be aware that it can be a symptom of long Covid and dysautonomia [malfunctioning of the nervous system], and may feel concerned about what they are seeing,” he told Metro.

He said clinicians may also not be aware of the link between acrocyanosis and long Covid.

“We need to ensure that there is more awareness of dysautonomia in long Covid so that clinicians have the tools they need to manage patients appropriately,” he explained.

The NHS offers long-Covid services for people whose lives are negatively impacted by the condition

Sufferers may be referred to a specialist service, rehabilitation service or one that specialises in specific symptoms they may have.

Latest data shows Eris is the second most prevalent Covid strain in the UK, accounting for 14.6 per cent of cases, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

Overall Covid infections are thought to have jumped from 606,656 on July 4 to 785,980 on July 27, according to the Zoe Health Study.