Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume 2 (1995), Issue 6, Pages 279-281
doi:10.1155/S1064744995000184
Gynecological Case Report

Vaginal Mucositis in Measles

Ingrid A. Chamales,1 Peter G. Napolitano,1 and Cesar Rosa1,2

1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Passo, TX, USA
2Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, P.O. Box 100294, Gainesville 32610-0294, FL, USA

Received 12 October 1994; Accepted 12 January 1995

Copyright © 1995 Hindawi Publishing Corporation. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Background: Measles (rubeola), a common childhood exanthema, occurs infrequently in adults. Vaginal mucositis in association with measles is not commonly described.

Case: During a recent measles epidemic, 2 female patients presented with high fever, myalgia, exanthema, and prostration. On examination, each patient had marked inflammation and tenderness of the vaginal mucosa, prompting the presumptive diagnosis of toxic shock syndrome. The evolution of the illness was consistent with measles. Cervicovaginal cultures were negative for pathogens. Acute and convalescent antibody titers for Rocky Mountain spotted fever, rubella, leptospirosis, and Proteus Ox-19 were not consistent with a recent infection. The sera also were negative for anti-toxic shock toxin-1 and anti-streptolysin. Measles antibody titers were consistent with a recent infection.

Conclusion: Vaginal mucositis is an unusual manifestation of measles that may mimic toxic shock syndrome.