More than a symptom, it is a sign. According to a renowned doctor who shares information on TikTok, COVID-19 can be detected through fingernails, and even if an asymptomatic patient is a carrier of the virus. It would be a new method that until now was not known or mentioned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
During the Coronavirus pandemic, the CDC has emphasized symptoms such as fever, loss of smell, diarrhea, shortness of breath, fatigue and other complications that arise depending on the age and immune system of each person. Although these were not recognized, other signs such as skin rash, loss of appetite and mental confusion were also associated with COVID-19.
Dr. Karan Raj, a TikTok celebrity with 3.8 million followers, explained in a video how to detect the virus through fingernails. According to the specialist, the so-called Beau’s lines (indentations on the surface of the nails) “can show whether an infection or trauma has been experienced in recent weeks.” He also stressed that scientists assured that this detail is found in people recovering from COVID-19.
In the material with more than 1,850 comments, a person’s hand can be seen with a white line that extends horizontally across the nails. The doctor and also influencer specified that this is the signal to detect if a patient goes through COVID-19.
“If you have something like this on your nails, it could be a sign that you have COVID-19, ” Dr. Raj says in the video. He explained that scientists had already noticed that patients, once they recovered from symptoms, remained with this “clear or white horizontal line that leaves a prominent ridge on the nails.”
Finally, he pointed out that Beau’s lines appear “when there is a temporary interruption in the growth of the nails, due to the fact that the body has an infection.”
An unofficial COVID test
Despite the reputation of Dr. Karan Raj on social media, becoming famous for his informative videos and sharing health tips, the nail test has not been classified as an official symptom of COVID-19. The CDC so far has not commented on this sign.
It should be noted that the tiktoker doctor not only associated the nail mark with COVID-19 but as a general sign of infections in the body, which reduces its precision.
And while we could all look at our fingernails right now to make sure the lines aren’t there, the most compelling test for COVID-19 is still PCR or an antibody test.