Forchheimer spots
Encyclopedia
Forchheimer spots are a fleeting enanthem
seen as small, red spots (petechiae) on the soft palate
in 20% of patients with rubella
. They precede or accompany the skin rash
of rubella. They are not diagnostic
of rubella, as similar spots can be seen in measles
and scarlet fever
.
The sign is named after Frederick Forchheimer
.
Enanthem
Mucous membrane Rash arising from another focus of infection.Enanthem or enanthema are medical terms for a rash on the mucous membranes. These are characteristic of patients with smallpox, measles, and chicken pox....
seen as small, red spots (petechiae) on the soft palate
Soft palate
The soft palate is the soft tissue constituting the back of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is distinguished from the hard palate at the front of the mouth in that it does not contain bone....
in 20% of patients with rubella
Rubella
Rubella, commonly known as German measles, is a disease caused by the rubella virus. The name "rubella" is derived from the Latin, meaning little red. Rubella is also known as German measles because the disease was first described by German physicians in the mid-eighteenth century. This disease is...
. They precede or accompany the skin rash
Exanthem
An exanthem is a widespread rash usually occurring in children. Exanthems can be caused by toxins or drugs, microorganisms, or can result from autoimmune disease.It can be contrasted with an enanthem.-Types:...
of rubella. They are not diagnostic
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of anything. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines with variations in the use of logics, analytics, and experience to determine the cause and effect relationships...
of rubella, as similar spots can be seen in measles
Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
and scarlet fever
Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is a disease caused by exotoxin released by Streptococcus pyogenes. Once a major cause of death, it is now effectively treated with antibiotics...
.
The sign is named after Frederick Forchheimer
Frederick Forchheimer
Frederick Forchheimer was an American pediatrician known for describing Forchheimer spots. He became an instructor at the Medical College of Ohio in 1875, and founded one of the first clinics for children in the United States...
.