Harlequin Color Change in a Neonate Positive to COVID-19: Case Report
Background: Harlequin color change is a benign, idiopathic, self-limiting disorder characterized by an appearance of skin divided into two distinctly colored areas. Its etiology is unknown but thought to be caused by immaturity of hypothalamic regulation of peripheral vascular tone. COVID-19 infect...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
2023-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Medical Students |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/1836 |
| _version_ | 1797704235080482816 |
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| author | Esther Pinel-Guzmán Julián Martínez-Fernandez Rafael Pinel-Dubón Olman Gradis-Santos Mario Santamaría-Vasquez |
| author_facet | Esther Pinel-Guzmán Julián Martínez-Fernandez Rafael Pinel-Dubón Olman Gradis-Santos Mario Santamaría-Vasquez |
| author_sort | Esther Pinel-Guzmán |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background: Harlequin color change is a benign, idiopathic, self-limiting disorder characterized by an appearance of skin divided into two distinctly colored areas. Its etiology is unknown but thought to be caused by immaturity of hypothalamic regulation of peripheral vascular tone. COVID-19 infection in neonates is infrequent and rarely symptomatic, with only a few cases described in the literature. In isolation, both conditions have low incidence. This is the first case reported in the world literature of harlequin color change in a newborn who tested positive for COVID-19. There isn’t a single publication that links harlequin color change to COVID-19, yet. The Case: Newborn of a 34-year old mother. Who at 3 hours of life presented progressive respiratory distress with whimpering and cyanosis. At 20 hours presented a sudden color change in the right hemibody with unilateral hyperemia and contralateral pallor, simultaneous with a demarcated line separating the left and right sides of the body, involving the trunk, extremities and face, this remained for 10 minutes and then began to fade on its own until it disappeared completely. There were no changes in vital parameters associated with this phenomenon. Only one episode was reported. The transient character and the strict unilateral distribution of the manifestations did not confirm any etiology other than Harlequin phenomenon. Subsequently the patient evolved to respiratory deterioration, multiorgan failure (SOFA: 21), died at 22 days of life due to respiratory arrest.
Conclusion: This is the first ever documented case in worldwide literature of harlequin color change in a neonate positive to COVID-19. Given the low incidence of both entities in isolation and the fact that they were discovered in the same patient, we suggest a strong possibility of SARS-CoV-2 to be the source of the harlequin phenomena in this case and should be considered as an indicator of severe COVID in newborns, but further studies that expand the selection of patients with this condition are needed. There is no literature linking the harlequin phenomenon with COVID-19.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:17:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1022158019f8437496ae3f9971517ff7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-6327 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:17:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | University Library System, University of Pittsburgh |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Medical Students |
| spelling | doaj.art-1022158019f8437496ae3f9971517ff72023-09-03T07:58:04ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghInternational Journal of Medical Students2076-63272023-01-011010.5195/ijms.2022.1836Harlequin Color Change in a Neonate Positive to COVID-19: Case ReportEsther Pinel-Guzmán0Julián Martínez-FernandezRafael Pinel-DubónOlman Gradis-SantosMario Santamaría-VasquezUNICAH Background: Harlequin color change is a benign, idiopathic, self-limiting disorder characterized by an appearance of skin divided into two distinctly colored areas. Its etiology is unknown but thought to be caused by immaturity of hypothalamic regulation of peripheral vascular tone. COVID-19 infection in neonates is infrequent and rarely symptomatic, with only a few cases described in the literature. In isolation, both conditions have low incidence. This is the first case reported in the world literature of harlequin color change in a newborn who tested positive for COVID-19. There isn’t a single publication that links harlequin color change to COVID-19, yet. The Case: Newborn of a 34-year old mother. Who at 3 hours of life presented progressive respiratory distress with whimpering and cyanosis. At 20 hours presented a sudden color change in the right hemibody with unilateral hyperemia and contralateral pallor, simultaneous with a demarcated line separating the left and right sides of the body, involving the trunk, extremities and face, this remained for 10 minutes and then began to fade on its own until it disappeared completely. There were no changes in vital parameters associated with this phenomenon. Only one episode was reported. The transient character and the strict unilateral distribution of the manifestations did not confirm any etiology other than Harlequin phenomenon. Subsequently the patient evolved to respiratory deterioration, multiorgan failure (SOFA: 21), died at 22 days of life due to respiratory arrest. Conclusion: This is the first ever documented case in worldwide literature of harlequin color change in a neonate positive to COVID-19. Given the low incidence of both entities in isolation and the fact that they were discovered in the same patient, we suggest a strong possibility of SARS-CoV-2 to be the source of the harlequin phenomena in this case and should be considered as an indicator of severe COVID in newborns, but further studies that expand the selection of patients with this condition are needed. There is no literature linking the harlequin phenomenon with COVID-19. https://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/1836COVID-19NewbornCase ReportsHarlequin syndromePediatrics |
| spellingShingle | Esther Pinel-Guzmán Julián Martínez-Fernandez Rafael Pinel-Dubón Olman Gradis-Santos Mario Santamaría-Vasquez Harlequin Color Change in a Neonate Positive to COVID-19: Case Report International Journal of Medical Students COVID-19 Newborn Case Reports Harlequin syndrome Pediatrics |
| title | Harlequin Color Change in a Neonate Positive to COVID-19: Case Report |
| title_full | Harlequin Color Change in a Neonate Positive to COVID-19: Case Report |
| title_fullStr | Harlequin Color Change in a Neonate Positive to COVID-19: Case Report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Harlequin Color Change in a Neonate Positive to COVID-19: Case Report |
| title_short | Harlequin Color Change in a Neonate Positive to COVID-19: Case Report |
| title_sort | harlequin color change in a neonate positive to covid 19 case report |
| topic | COVID-19 Newborn Case Reports Harlequin syndrome Pediatrics |
| url | https://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/1836 |
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