Palatal Petechiae in a Young Girl: What Cause?

Palatal Petechiae in a Young Girl: What Cause?
Published on Diagnostic Imaging (http://www.diagnosticimaging.com)
Palatal Petechiae in a Young Girl: What Cause?
September 15, 2004
By Robert P. Blereau, MD [1]
When palatal petechiae are present along with exudative tonsillitis and cervical adenitis, and test
and culture are positive, a Strep diagnosis is more secure.
Diffuse pinhead and petechial lesions of 1 to 2 days’ duration were noted on the palate of a
5-year-old girl. The child had a fever and sore throat with exudative tonsillitis and cervical adenitis.
Results of a rapid antigen test for group A were positive. Throat culture grew group A β-hemolytic
streptococci. The mere isolation of Streptococcus from a throat specimen of a child with exudative
tonsillitis does not establish streptococcal infection as the cause. However, when palatal petechiae
are present along with exudative tonsillitis and cervical adenitis, and a positive test or culture result,
the diagnosis is more secure. .streptococcus>
Robert P. Blereau, MD, of Morgan City, La, writes that although palatal petechiae are seen with
streptococcal tonsillitis, they are not pathognomonic. These hemorrhagic spots may also accompany
infectious mononucleosis, rubella (Forschheimer spots), roseola, viral hemorrhagic fevers,
thrombocytopenia, and palatal trauma. In the setting of acute tonsillitis, treatment is recommended
for all children who are antigen- or culture-positive for group A β-hemolytic Streptococcus. This
patient responded promptly to oral penicillin..streptococcus>
Source URL: http://www.diagnosticimaging.com/infection/palatal-petechiae-young-girl-what-cause
Links:
[1] http://www.diagnosticimaging.com/authors/robert-p-blereau-md
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