An inflammatory disorder that follows infection with group A streptococcus. It affects the heart, joints, and subcutaneous tissues. It manifests with pericarditis, heart murmur, congestive heart failure, polyarthritis, subcutaneous nodules, and erythema marginatum. It is characterized by the formation of granulomatous lesions called Aschoff bodies usually in the heart tissue.
Symptoms of Rheumatic Fever
The following features are indicative of Rheumatic Fever:
fever
chest pain
red joint
swollen joints
heart murmur
fatigue
flat or raised, painless rash with a ragged edge
pain in one joint that migrates to another joint
painful and tender joints
jerky, uncontrollable body movements
outbursts of unusual behavior
small, painless bumps beneath the skin
It is possible that Rheumatic Fever shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
Get TabletWise Pro
Thousands of Classes to Help You Become a Better You.
Common Causes of Rheumatic Fever
The following are the most common causes of Rheumatic Fever:
throat infection
group A streptococcus bacteria
Risk Factors for Rheumatic Fever
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Rheumatic Fever:
family history
overcrowding
poor sanitation
Prevention of Rheumatic Fever
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Rheumatic Fever. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
quickly treat strep throat infections and scarlet fever
Occurrence of Rheumatic Fever
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Rheumatic Fever cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Rheumatic Fever most commonly occurs in the following age group:
Aged between 5-14 years
Common Gender
Rheumatic Fever can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Rheumatic Fever
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Rheumatic Fever:
Blood test: To detect antibodies to the strep bacteria circulating in the blood
Electrocardiogram: To detect functioning of heart
Echocardiogram: To get live action images of the heart
Complications of Rheumatic Fever if untreated
Yes, Rheumatic Fever causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Rheumatic Fever is left untreated:
narrowing of the valve
valve regurgitation
damage to heart muscle
heart failure
Self-care for Rheumatic Fever
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Rheumatic Fever:
take bed rest until inflammation, pain and other symptoms have improved
Patient Support for Treatment of Rheumatic Fever
The following actions may help Rheumatic Fever patients:
Join support and advocacy groups: Helps to connect with other patients and families to provide valuable services
Time for Treatment of Rheumatic Fever
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Rheumatic Fever to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
Disease cannot be treated but only maintained or effects reduced
Is Rheumatic Fever Infectious?
Yes, Rheumatic Fever is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:
through direct contact of mucus from a sick, infected person to a healthy person