Palatal Petechiae

The variable appearance of palatal petechiae is demonstrated by these two cases, presented by Robert P. Blereau, MD of Morgan City, La. The petechiae appear as discrete pinhead lesions in a 10-year-old boy (A), whereas they are manifested as minute hemorrhagic areas in a 30-year-old woman (B).

Both patients had acute tonsillitis and were antigen-positive for group A β-hemolytic streptococcus. Although palatal petechiae often accompany this type of tonsillitis, they are not a pathognomonic sign. These hemorrhagic spots may also be associated with viral tonsillitis in such conditions as infectious mononucleosis, measles, and rubella.