A six - month - old ’s center turned an unusual shade of blue , in what doctors believe was a rarified complication from a handling for COVID-19 .

The boy was first brought to doctors following the evolution of a coughing and fever , before an antigen mental test confirm that he had COVID-19 . He was prescribed favipiravir by the doctors , which is normallyused to treatinfluenza . The antiviral medication is sometimes order for COVID-19inJapan and Thailand , thoughevidence suggestsit has little positive effect on final result for patient with non - grievous , early microscope stage ofthe disease . However , other enquiry indicatespatients under 60 who have been admitted to infirmary for COVID-19may see some benefit .

Mild diarrhea and elevated uric acid in the blood are more unwashed side effects of favipiravir habituate , but 18 hours after beginning the discussion , the male child ’s female parent noticed his eyes turned a shining blue colouring in sun . The rarified side burden had been report antecedently , including in the case of one20 - year - honest-to-god adult male . In both cases , when treatment was discontinued the patient role ' eye returned to their usual color .

In their discussion , the baby ’s doctors note that " favipiravir has also been shown to stimulate fluorescence in human hair and nails . "

" This inauspicious effect may be due to the drug , its metabolite , or extra tablet component such as titanium dioxide and yellow ferric oxide , " the squad wrote . " Studies have shown that the active phosphorylated metabolite of favipiravir is find in human blood plasma and that there is a linear correlation between its concentration and the volume of fluorescence . "

Further investigation in the lab show that the drug was fluorescent under ultraviolet light brightness . The team play up in the report recent concerns around the refuge and efficacy of favipiravir in regale COVID-19 .

" The report adverse event , although rare , should be take in gravely and closely [ monitor ] in succeeding cases , " they reason . " Further studies are needed to determine the incidence of these untoward [ effect ] and its likely long - term outcome on corneal health . "

The subject field is print inFrontiers in Pediatrics .

[ H / T : LiveScience ]