Molecular study of recent virus and its relationship to Pityriasis rosea.

BACKGROUND A new type of coronavirus family severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that has been detected in individuals with several clinical symptoms named COVID-19, was recognized as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Numerous researches have been conducted on the manifestations of a skin disease related to COVID-19, i.e., rashes or Pityriasis rosea (PR), vascular markings, and pimple-like lesions. AIM This study aims to find out if the Coronavirus can affect the PR development, which also can be considered as a trigger and symptom for other types of infections. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study is a case series describing the dermatological findings related to COVID-19 in the Thi-Qar Governorate. Samples were taken from inpatients, outpatients, and from the emergency unit of Al Hussein Teaching Hospital, and inwards of Al-Shefaa' Isolation Hospital. The study has been done over a 4 month period (June-September, 2020.). RESULTS Around 19 patients, 10 females (52.6%) and 9 males (47.4%), who were infected with Coronavirus and were suffering from PR, are included in this study. The distribution of patients according to the incidence of PR in typical and anomalous manners were 77.9% and 21.1% respectively. The highest percentage of the incidence of PR was in moderate COVID-19 (84.2%), while it was around 15.8% in mild COVID-19. There was no significant statistical difference in the mean age distribution according to gender, while there was a significant statistical difference according to PR and COVID-19 class. More studies are needed to evaluate whether or not these lesions are associated with the virus. CONCLUSION The PR was one of the dermatological finding of COVID-19 that did not have a clear role in the distribution of the disease according to the background of the patients, and also the severity of COVID-19. It can be triggered by COVID-19 and be completely cured with the clearance of the disease. RECOMMENDATION An accurate robust cutaneous documentation related to COVID-19 is required to improve the knowledge of the disease as well as its epidemiology.