Pastia's lines
System: General & Eye–Ear Signs · All general & eye–ear signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
Pink or red lines that appear in the skin folds — armpits, elbows and groins — that stay darker and do not blanch like the rest of the rash.
What a positive finding suggests
Associated with scarlet fever, caused by group A streptococcal toxin.
◈ Behind the name
Leon Pastia (1874–1929), Romanian physician.
Related signs — General & Eye–Ear Signs
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Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.