What are Koplik spots indicative of?

Koplik spots are a classic clinical finding specifically associated with measles (rubeola). These spots are small, irregularly shaped, bluish-white lesions that appear on the mucous membranes, particularly inside the cheek, usually appearing 1 to 2 days before the characteristic measles rash.

The presence of Koplik spots is an important diagnostic feature that helps differentiate measles from other viral illnesses. They serve as an early indicator of the disease and are often used in conjunction with other signs and symptoms—such as fever, cough, and conjunctivitis—when evaluating a patient suspected of having measles.

This understanding of Koplik spots emphasizes their significance in the context of measles and underlines why they are not associated with the other conditions listed, such as chickenpox, scarlet fever, or herpes simplex. Each of these conditions presents with different clinical findings and does not include Koplik spots as a characteristic feature.