Rheumatic fever may develop after strep throat or scarlet fever infections that are not treated properly. Bacteria called group A Strep
What is the most common cause of rheumatic fever?
Rheumatic fever can occur after a throat infection from a bacteria called group A streptococcus . Group A streptococcus infections of the throat cause strep throat or, less commonly, scarlet fever.
How long does rheumatic fever last?
Symptoms usually pass within a few months but can last up to 2 years . They are not normally permanent. Other symptoms include a red, blotchy, skin rash, which appears in 1 in 10 cases. Less common are nosebleeds, abdominal pain, bumps and lumps, or nodules, under the skin, and a high fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can rheumatic fever be cured?
Rheumatic fever doesn't have a cure , but treatments can manage the condition. Getting a precise diagnosis soon after symptoms show up can prevent the disease from causing permanent damage. Severe complications are rare. When they occur, they may affect the heart, joints, nervous system or skin.
What is the main cause of rheumatic heart disease?
Rheumatic heart disease is caused by rheumatic fever , an inflammatory disease that can affect many connective tissues, especially in the heart, joints, skin, or brain. The heart valves can be inflamed and become scarred over time.
How long can you live with rheumatic heart disease?
The relative survival was 96.9% (95% CI 96.1–97.5%) at one year and 81.2% (95% CI 79.2–83.0%) at five years (S3 Fig). The risk of death among RHD/ARF patients increased with age over and above background rates; there was also increased risk for both male and iTaukei patients (S4 Table).
How do you recover from rheumatic heart disease?
There is no cure for rheumatic heart disease and the damage to the heart valves are permanent. Patients with severe rheumatic heart disease will often require surgery to replace or repair the damages valve or valves.
What organs of the body does rheumatic fever affect?
Rheumatic fever (acute rheumatic fever) is a disease that can affect the heart, joints, brain, and skin . Rheumatic fever can develop if strep throat and scarlet fever infections are not treated properly.
What does rheumatic fever rash look like?
A flat, painless rash with a wavy edge (erythema marginatum) may appear as the other symptoms subside. It lasts for only a short time, sometimes less than a day. This photo shows the flat, painless rash with a wavy edge that may appear with rheumatic fever.
What is a common serious complication of rheumatic fever?
Rheumatic fever can cause long-term complications in certain situations. One of the most prevalent complications is rheumatic heart disease . Other heart conditions include: Aortic valve stenosis. This is a narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart.
What antibiotics treat rheumatic fever?
Rheumatic fever is preventable by treating strep throat with antibiotics, usually penicillin . If a patient is allergic to penicillin, other antibiotics such as erythromycin (Eryc, Ery-Tab, E.E.S, Eryped, PCE) or clindamycin (Cleocin) can be used.
Which of the following is usually the first symptom of rheumatic fever?
Streptococcal throat infections are contagious, but rheumatic fever is not. The symptoms of rheumatic fever generally develop within two to three weeks following an infection with streptococcal bacteria, and usually the first symptoms are painful joints or arthritis .
Is there a vaccine for rheumatic fever?
Currently, there are no licensed vaccines for Strep A which could prevent rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease and those in clinical development may not protect against the specific strains circulating in New Zealand and Australia.
What is rheumatic fever in child?
Rheumatic fever is a complex disease that affects the joints, skin, heart, blood vessels, and brain . It occurs mainly in children between the ages of 5 to 15. It is an autoimmune disease that may occur after an infection with strep (streptococcus) bacteria. Strep infections include strep throat and scarlet fever.
How was rheumatic fever treated in the 1940s?
The introduction of antibiotics (sulphonamides and then penicillin in the 1940s) and the trials conducted during the 1940s and in the USA, demonstrated that penicillin treatment for streptococcal pharyngitis has a preventive effect against rheumatic fever.
How does strep turn into rheumatic fever?
Rheumatic fever results from an inflammatory reaction to certain group A streptococcus bacteria . The body produces antibodies to fight the bacteria, but instead the antibodies attack a different target: the body's own tissues. The antibodies begin with the joints and often move on to the heart and surrounding tissues.
