CASE 05 • Infectious disease • FREE SAMPLE
A Tongue That Gives the Clue
What is the most likely spot diagnosis?
Study the morphology and distribution in the photograph before revealing the answer.
Strawberry tongue in streptococcal scarlet fever
Why this fits:
Prominent papillae on an erythematous tongue after a white coating is a classic strawberry-tongue appearance.
Prominent papillae on an erythematous tongue after a white coating is a classic strawberry-tongue appearance.
Important differential:
Consider scarlet fever, Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome according to age and systemic context.
Consider scarlet fever, Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome according to age and systemic context.
Important key point:
Always integrate the tongue finding with fever, pharyngitis, rash and systemic toxicity.
Always integrate the tongue finding with fever, pharyngitis, rash and systemic toxicity.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons file page — review the file page for author, original source and licence.