Rheumatic fever - causes, symptoms & treatment
Rheumatic fever is a consequence of untreated streptococci. Find out more about the symptoms, causes, risks and modern treatment options.
Things worth knowing about "Rheumatic fever"
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that can occur as a complication of untreated streptococcal angina (sore throat) or other infections with the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes.
Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune reaction in which the body's own immune system begins to attack healthy tissue in response to the bacterial infection. The heart, the joints, the skin and the central nervous system are particularly affected. Rheumatic fever occurs mainly in children and adolescents aged 5 to 15 years and continues to be a major health problem in many parts of the world, although it has become less common in industrialised countries thanks to modern antibiotic treatments.
Typical symptoms include fever, pain and swelling in the joints (arthritis), inflammation of the heart (carditis), skin rash (erythema marginatum), involuntary movements (Sydenham's chorea) and nodules under the skin. The joint inflammations are usually painful, but often affect not just one, but several joints. Involvement of the heart can lead to permanent damage to the heart valves and increase the risk of heart failure.
Treatment of rheumatic fever usually involves the administration of antibiotics to combat the underlying streptococcal infection and prevent further complications. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or corticosteroids are used to relieve inflammation of the joints and other affected areas.
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