Rheumatic fever

An infectious disease caused by a streptococcal infection (usually strep throat). Antibodies produced during the infection can cause inflammation of many body tissues, especially the inner lining of the heart. In addition, the conducting fibers of the heart may be affected, interfering with the transmission of impulses that control the heart beat.

A collagen disease of young people and children, caused by haemolytic streptococci, where the joints and also the valves and lining of the heart become inflamed.

A once very common childhood disease that causes inflammation in many of the body’s tissues and joints and often causes permanent damage to the heart, sometimes apparent only later. It can also affect the nervous system, the result being Sydenham’s chorea, and in severe cases can cause death. Rheumatic fever is associated with infection by streptococcus bacteria (as in strep throat), which seems to trigger a kind of autoimmune disorder in which antibodies to the strep mistakenly attack the body itself (see immune system). Since the development of antibiotics, rheumatic fever has been far less common in developed countries, though it is still widespread elsewhere. But in the United States, rheumatic fever is on the increase again, possibly because a more virulent strain of strep bacteria has developed and perhaps because antibiotics have failed to work effectively. No immunization is available, nor do any specific tests exist to diagnose rheumatic fever. If a child has a sore throat or fever for more than a day or two, especially if the child has been exposed to strep, public health experts advise that the child be examined by a doctor for the presence of strep. Mild cases may pass in three to four weeks with little effect, but severe cases can last for two to three months, with long-term effects, and may recur. In cases of heart damage, surgery may later be needed.

Inflammatory disease, occurring primarily in children, as a result of a delayed reaction to an inadequately treated streptococcal infection of the upper respiratory tract (e.g., streptococcal throat). Symptoms, appearing several weeks after the acute infection, include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, arthritis, and consequent pain affecting many joints, and palpitations and chest pain associated with inflammation of the heart; other signs include reddish patches on the skin and abnormal involuntary muscular movements. Treatment includes bed rest, restricted activity, and sometimes antibiotics, steroids, and pain relievers. Most cases resolve within 1 or 2 months, except for the residual effects of carditis.

An inflammatory disease caused by an untreated streptococcal infection, such as strep throat. Symptoms may include fever, swelling of joints, and nodules under the skin. Heart damage may occur.

An inflammatory illness that occurs as a delayed complication of group A Streptococcus infection of the upper respiratory tract. The illness, which is not contagious, can occur within 3 to 35 days after a person has had strep throat but received no treatment for it. Rheumatic fever produces inflammatory lesions in the connective tissue of the heart, joints, tissues below the skin, and central nervous system. Complications of rheumatic fever following a single episode of the illness are unusual, but they may include valvular heart disease, congestive heart failure, and persistent arthritis.

A disease affecting mainly children and young adults that arises as a delayed complication of infection of the upper respiratory tract with hemolytic streptococci. The main features are fever, arthritis progressing from joint to joint, reddish circular patches on the skin, small painless nodules formed on bony prominences such as the elbow, abnormal involuntary movements of the limbs and head (chorea), and inflammation of the membrane surrounding the: heart. The condition may progress to chronic rheumatic heart disease, with scarring and chronic inflammation of the heart and its valves leading to heart failure, murmurs, and damage to the valves. The initial infection is treated with antibiotics (e.g. penicillin) and bed rest, with aspirin for the joint pain.

An acute feverish illness, usually seen in children, which may include arthralgia, arthritis, chorea, carditis and rash. The illness follows a beta-haemolytic streptococcal infection.

A multisystem, febrile inflammatory disease that is a delayed complication of untreated group A streptococcal pharyngitis. It is believed to be caused by an autoimmune response to bacterial antigens in the streptococci, although the precise mechanism responsible for the illness has not been identified. Primarily seen in children between ages 5 and 15, the disease is now uncommon in Western societies because of effective and prompt treatment for strep throat, but it remains a major cause of morbidity in the developing world.

An inflammatory condition, which may occur subsequent to an infection of the throat by streptococcal bacteria, and has the potential to result in cardiac impairment.

A condition that triggers widespread inflammation, particularly affecting the joints. Presently, it is uncommon in developed nations, yet it remains a significant contributor to heart disease in developing countries. It primarily affects children between the ages of five and fifteen.

Rheumatic fever is thought to be an autoimmune condition, wherein the body’s immune system targets its own tissues. This is triggered by specific strains of streptococcal bacteria. Rheumatic fever typically emerges subsequent to a throat infection. Taking antibiotic medications generally can prevent the onset of rheumatic fever.

Rheumatic fever results in elevated body temperature along with discomfort, inflammation, and enlargement of one or more major joints. The heart valves might undergo scarring, potentially leading to conditions like mitral stenosis (narrowing of the mitral valve) or mitral incompetence (leakage from the mitral valve). When the nervous system is affected, it can result in Sydenham’s chorea, characterized by irregular, involuntary, jerky movements often accompanied by emotional disturbances.