Koplik Spots
Other Names
- Koplik spots
- Koplik's spots
- Koplik spot lesions
- Enanthem of measles
Purpose
- Clinical identification of early Measles infection[3]
- Recognition of a classic oral enanthem that may precede the measles rash
Description
- Small bluish-white, gray-white, or white papules on an erythematous base
- Often described as “grains of salt on a red background”
- Typically located on the buccal mucosa opposite the molars
- Usually appear 1–2 days before the characteristic maculopapular measles rash
- Lesions may spread across the buccal mucosa and inner lips
- Often transient and may disappear as the skin rash develops
Pathology
- Measles/ Rubeola
Evidence
Measles
- Kimura et al[4]
- Sensitivity: 48%
- Specificity: 80%
- Husada et al[5]
- Sensitivity: 62.5%
- Specificity: 86.1%
See Also
References
- ↑ Khanpara, Pooja, and Poonam Chandpa. "Role of Hospital Pharmacist in Two Major Pediatric Diseases: Rotavirus & Measles." children 14: 17.
- ↑ Jayasree, Puravoor, Karalikkattil T. Ashique, and Feroze Kaliyadan. "Koplik spots." JAMA dermatology 157.4 (2021): 456-456.
- ↑ Helfand RF, et al. "Measles." New England Journal of Medicine. 2024;390(3):245-254.
- ↑ Kimura, Hirokazu, et al. "The association between documentation of Koplik spots and laboratory diagnosis of measles and other rash diseases in a national measles surveillance program in Japan." Frontiers in Microbiology 10 (2019): 269.
- ↑ Husada, Dominicus, et al. "An evaluation of the clinical features of measles virus infection for diagnosis in children within a limited resources setting." BMC pediatrics 20.1 (2020): 5.
Created by:
John Kiel on 14 May 2026 15:26:43
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Last edited:
14 May 2026 16:32:34
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