Koplik’s spots as described

This was a patient who presented with Koplik’s spots on palate due to pre-eruptive measles on day 3 of the illness. Measles is an acute, highly communicable viral disease with fever, conjunctivitis, coryza, cough, and Koplik spots. Koplik spots are small, red, irregularly-shaped spots with blue-white centers found on the mucosal surface of the oral cavity.


The spots as described by Koplik in 1896:

If we look in the mouth at this period we see a redness of the fauces; perhaps, not in all cases, a few spots on the soft palate. On the buccal mucous membrane and the inside of the lips, we invariably see a distinct eruption. It consists of small, irregular spots, of a bright red colour. In the centre of each spot, there is noted, in strong daylight, a minute bluish white speck. These red spots, with accompanying specks of a bluish colour, are absolutely pathognomonic of beginning measles, and when seen can be relied upon as the forerunner of the skin eruption.