dukes' disease dukes' disease dukes' disease, named after clement dukes, also known as fourth disease or filatov-dukes' disease (after nil filatov), is an exanthem. it is distinguished from measles or forms of rubella, though it was considered as a form of viral rash. although dukes identified it as a separate entity, it is thought not to be different from scarlet fever caused by exotoxin-producing streptococcus pyogenes after keith powell proposed equating it with the condition currently known as staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome in 1979. fourth diseaseother namesfilatov-dukes' diseasespecialtyinfectious diseases