...less medical jargon in a 'Quick Glance' format!
Rheumatic Fever is an inflammatory disease that can develop as a rare complication of untreated or undertreated strep throat infection. Strep throat is caused by infection with group A streptococcus. It is most common in children between the ages of 5 and 15 years, though it can develop in adults, and can cause damage to the heart, joints, the brain and spinal cord, and the skin.
Symptoms generally appear within a few weeks after a strep throat infection. In the United States, most cases of strep throat don't lead to rheumatic fever. Even in untreated cases, only a small percentage of people with strep throat develop rheumatic fever.
There's no cure. but it can be prevented by prompt and complete treatment of a strep throat infection with antibiotics.
Permanent heart damage resulting from rheumatic fever is called rheumatic heart disease. It commonly damages the heart valves and can interfere with normal blood flow through the heart.
It isn't as common in the United States today as it was at the start of the 20th century, before the widespread use of the antibiotics. Outbreaks do occur periodically, however. it is still common in developing countries.
Symptoms:
Signs and symptoms may include:
Painful, swollen joints
Chest pain
Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Faint pink or red rash
Jerky body movements
Fever
To make a diagnosis, doctors generally look for evidence of a preceding strep throat infection, which is characterized by:
Sore throat
Red and swollen tonsils
Fever
Fatigue
Abdominal pain (in younger children)
Tender lymph nodes in the front of the neck
Headache
Muscle aches
In some cases, the initial strep infection may not cause any symptoms.
Causes:
The exact cause isn't clear. Medical research has focused on an abnormal immune system response to the antigens produced by specific types of streptococcal bacteria. In addition, researchers are studying whether some people have a greater genetic disposition for an abnormal immune system response to streptococcal antigens.
..
Custom Search
Treatment:
The goals of treatment are to relieve symptoms, destroy the group A streptococcus and prevent future infection.
. . . Treatment involves:
Antibiotics to treat the streptococcal infection and prevent recurrences. Your doctor may prescribe penicillin or another antibiotic to eliminate any remaining strep bacteria in the body. Usually, additional antibiotics must be taken for several to many years to prevent additional attacks. Without continued antibiotic treatment, recurrence is common during the first three to five years after the initial infection.
Other medications to ease the symptoms of the disease. To reduce heart and joint inflammation, your doctor may recommend specific doses of over-the-counter or prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication. For severe heart inflammation, a corticosteroid medication, such as prednisone, can reduce the inflammation.
