Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory condition. It involves the connective tissue in the body. The most severe complication is rheumatic heart disease. This condition may permanently damage the heart valves. Valves affects the flow of blood to and from the heart. Symptoms of valve damage often don't appear for 10-30 years after the initial event.
Diseased Heart Valve
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Rheumatic fever is caused by a problem in the immune system. It happens in response to group A
). In this case, the immune system not only fights the bacteria but also attacks its own tissue. It often attacks heart tissue.
Factors that may increase your risk of rheumatic fever include:
Symptoms usually appear 2 to 4 weeks after a strep infection. They may include:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. This will include a careful exam of your heart. The doctor may take a throat culture. A blood test for streptococcal antibodies may be done.
Other tests may include:
The goals of treatment are to:
Treatment may include:
To treat the strep infection:
To help with joint pain and swelling:
In some cases the inflammation can be severe. You may have to be on bed rest or restricted activity for a period of time.
It is important to treat strep throat with antibiotics promptly. This will help to prevent rheumatic fever. If you or your child has a
and a fever that lasts more than 24 hours, contact your doctor.
American Heart Associationhttp://www.americanheart.org/
National Library of Medicinehttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canadahttp://ww2.heartandstroke.ca/
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Mayo Clinic and Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. Available at:
The Merck Manual of Medical Information—Home Edition
. Merck Research Laboratories; 1999.
Nausieda PA, Grossman BJ, Koller WC: Sydenham chorea: an update.
Robertson KA, Volmink JA, Mayosi BM. Antibiotics for the primary prevention of acute rheumatic fever.
BMC Cardiovasc Disorders
. 2005; 5:11.
Spagnuolo M, Pasternack B, Taranta A. Risk of rheumatic fever recurrences after streptococcal infections: prospective study of clinical and social factors.
N Engl J Med
University of Michigan Medical Center website. Available at: