Viral Infections USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 5-year-old previously unvaccinated boy presents to clinic with a 3-day history of fever (39.2°C), sore throat, and malaise. His mother reports a maculopapular rash that began on his face and has progressively spread to his trunk and extremities over the past 2 days. On examination, he has pharyngitis, palatal petechiae, and a finely textured erythematous rash that blanches with pressure. His tongue is beefy red with prominent papillae ('strawberry tongue'). A rapid streptococcal antigen test returns positive. The child's immunization records are unavailable. Which of the following viral exanthems is most important to differentiate from scarlet fever in this clinical scenario?
Answer choices
- ARubella (German measles) with concurrent group A streptococcal pharyngitis
- BMeasles (rubeola)Correct answer
- CRoseola infantum (human herpesvirus 6)
- DErythema infectiosum (parvovirus B19)
- EVaricella-zoster virus infection
- FInfectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus)
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