Do Appearance Of Rashes With Strep Infection Indicate Measles?

Posted on Sun, 7 Jun 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 7 Jun 2015 Answered on

Sat, 4 Jul 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : my 12 yr old grandson has been sick lately with what might have been strept throat, then they thought possibly mono. he is on antibiotics now. he woke up with red spots all over. could it be measles?

Answered by Dr. Archana Verma (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
HI

Detailed Answer:
HI

Welcome to the HCM

I understand your concern. Rashes can appear with strep infection as in scarlet fever and also in measles. I would like to know the following to get to a definitive diagnosis so as to help you in a better way.
1. Kindly describe the symptoms in detail and their duration and sequence of presentation. Measles is usually associated with non purulent conjunctivitis and flu like presentation.
2. The day of rash onset after the fever set in and its distribution. Rashes of measles usually start from face behind ears and then progress downwards. Scarlet fever leads to typical red sand paper type or sun burn type of rashes over the body.
3. Also upload the pictures of rashes is possible.
4. Is there any history of drug allergies in the past. And is the child immunized to measles in childhood or not.

As for management, measles requires symptomatic treatment.
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever relief.
- complete rest and good diet
For scarlet fever:
-A complete 10 days course of antibiotics will be helpful.

Kindly update me with the above information.
Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj