The unusual spate of chilblains seen during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic might be a type 1 interferonopathy occurring in individuals whose immune systems are highly effective at clearing the virus, French doctors suggest.

They conducted clinical, laboratory and vascular evaluations of 40 people presenting to the University Hospital clinic in Nice over two weeks in April with chilblains suspected to be related to COVID-19.

The median age was 22, 53% were women, 60% had been in contact with someone with possible COVID-19 and 28% had experienced symptoms compatible with the infection in the past six weeks.

None were admitted to hospital for COVID-19.