Erythrogenic toxin is associated with which disease?

Erythrogenic toxin is associated with which disease?

• A. Scarlet fever
• B. Diphtheria
• C. Impetigo
• D. Cutaneous anthrax

Answer: (A)

Erythrogenic toxin is produced by certain strains of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A strep) and acts as a pyrogenic superantigen that triggers the rash and fever seen in scarlet fever. When a GAS infection carries the genes for this toxin (often on a lysogenic phage), the toxin causes the characteristic fine, sandpaper-like rash, starting on the neck and chest and sometimes accompanied by a “strawberry” tongue. This toxin-mediated presentation is specific to scarlet fever rather than other diseases listed. Diphtheria toxin causes diphtheria with a pseudomembrane, not scarlet fever. Impetigo may be caused by GAS or Staph but does not involve systemic erythrogenic toxin production. Cutaneous anthrax is due to Bacillus anthracis and its toxins, unrelated to erythrogenic toxin.

Erythrogenic toxin is produced by certain strains of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A strep) and acts as a pyrogenic superantigen that triggers the rash and fever seen in scarlet fever. When a GAS infection carries the genes for this toxin (often on a lysogenic phage), the toxin causes the characteristic fine, sandpaper-like rash, starting on the neck and chest and sometimes accompanied by a “strawberry” tongue. This toxin-mediated presentation is specific to scarlet fever rather than other diseases listed. Diphtheria toxin causes diphtheria with a pseudomembrane, not scarlet fever. Impetigo may be caused by GAS or Staph but does not involve systemic erythrogenic toxin production. Cutaneous anthrax is due to Bacillus anthracis and its toxins, unrelated to erythrogenic toxin.