A nurse practitioner suspects that a child has scarlet fever based on which assessment finding?

• A. A bull's-eye rash at the site of a tick bite
• B. A vesicular rash on the palms and soles
• C. A sandpaper-like rash and a 'strawberry' tongue
• D. A generalized petechial rash with joint pain

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the clinical features of scarlet fever, which is caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria producing erythrogenic toxin.
2. Recall that scarlet fever typically presents with a characteristic 'sandpaper-like' rash, which feels rough to the touch, and a 'strawberry' tongue, which is red and bumpy.
3. Compare the given options to known symptoms of scarlet fever: a bull's-eye rash is associated with Lyme disease, a vesicular rash on palms and soles is typical of other conditions like hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and a petechial rash with joint pain suggests other infections or conditions.
4. Identify that the option describing a sandpaper-like rash and a strawberry tongue matches the classic presentation of scarlet fever.
5. Conclude that the nurse practitioner's suspicion is based on recognizing these hallmark signs, which are key diagnostic clues for scarlet fever.