Abstract:
Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is an emerging global pandemic caused
by “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2” (SARS-CoV-2).
Since its emergence, COVID-19-associated cutaneous manifestations have
been increasingly reported, and are extremely polymorphic. Acute
generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a rare exanthem
characterized by the abrupt onset of numerous small
non-follicular, sterile pustules arising on an erythematous base. Here,
we report a case of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) in
a Tunisian adult a, few days after recovery from severe COVID-19.
The direct and indirect role, of SARS-CoV-2 in the pathogenesis of this
eruption is still debated and has not yet been established.
Introduction :
The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of the 2019 coronavirus
disease (COVID-19), is rapidly spreading worldwide [1].
COVID-19 emerged in Tunisia in March 2020. Several cutaneous
manifestations have been reported in association with COVID-19, such
as urticaria, erythematous papular and/or vesicular rash, chilblains,
livedo or purpura, and pustular eruptions such as acute generalized
exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) [2].
AGEP is a rare skin disease characterized by sudden skin eruption of
numerous pinpoint, non-follicular, sterile pustules arising on
an erythematous base. AGEP is mainly caused by drugs, especially
antibiotics, such as amino-penicillins (beta-lactams) or macrolides
[3]. Other etiologic agents have been reported to trigger AGEP such
as spider bite, mercury and viral agents including coxsackie virus,
cytomegalovirus (CMV), enterovirus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis
B virus, and parvovirus B19 (Parvo 19) [3].
To the best of our knowledge, only a few cases of AGEP related to
COVID-19 have been reported [4-14].