Patient Education
What is Rheumatic Fever?
Rheumatic fever is one of the complications associated with strep throat. The condition usually appears in children between the ages of 5 and 15, even though older children and adults have been known to contract the fever as well as
Rheumatic fever is a relatively serious illness that, if left untreated, can cause stroke, permanent damage to heart, and death.
What Causes Rheumatic Fever?
The number one cause of rheumatic fever is strep throat. However, it has also been associated with scarlet fever. The body will sometimes attack its own tissues after it’s been infected with strep throat bacteria. This reaction will cause widespread inflammation through the body that is the basis for all of the symptoms of rheumatic fever.
What Are the Symptoms of Rheumatic Fever?
Rheumatic fever is a complication of strep throat. If your child has any of the following symptoms, a strep test is needed:
- sore throat or sore throat with tender and swollen lymph nodes
- rash
- trouble swallowing
- thick, bloody discharge from nose
A wide variety of symptoms are associated with rheumatic fever. An individual with the illness could experience a few, some, or most of the symptoms below. Symptoms usually appear two to four weeks after your child has been diagnosed with strep throat.
Common symptoms include:
- fever
- painful/tender joints in the ankles, knees, elbows, and wrists
- pain in one joint that moves to another joint
- red, hot, swollen joints
- small nodules (bumps) under the skin that don’t hurt
- chest pain
- rapid fluttering or pounding chest palpitations
- fatigue
- nosebleeds
- stomach pain
- shortness of breath
- short attention span
- sweating
- vomiting
- flat, slightly raised, ragged rash
- jerky uncontrollable hand, feet, face movements
- outbursts of crying or inappropriate laughter
How Is Rheumatic Fever Diagnosed?
The doctor will first want to get your child’s medical history, including his or her current symptoms. The doctor will also want to know if your child has had a recent bout of strep throat. Next, a physical exam will be given that includes the following:
- checking joints for inflammation
- looking for rash or skin nodules (hard bumps beneath the skin)
- listening to heart to check for abnormalities
- movement tests to determine nervous system dysfunction
- blood tests for strep bacteria
- EKG (measures the electric waves of the heart)
- echocardiography (uses sound waves to produce image of the heart)
What is Effective Treatments for Rheumatic Fever?
The most effective way to make sure that your child does not contract rheumatic fever is to make sure all strep bacteria are killed. In addition, doctors will treat the symptoms and control the resulting inflammation. This can include any of the following.
Antibiotics
Doctors will prescribe antibiotics and, on occasion, will prescribe a long-term (up to five-year) treatment to prevent reoccurrence.
Anti-inflammatory Treatment
Anti-inflammatory treatments include pain relief medications that are also anti-inflammatory, such as aspirin or naproxen. Doctors may also prescribe a corticosteroid (a class of drug that decreases inflammation).
Anticonvulsant Medications
Your doctor might prescribe an anticonvulsant if involuntary movements become too severe.
Doctors will also recommend bed rest and restricted activities until the major symptoms like pain and inflammation have passed. Your child might be placed on strict bed rest for a few weeks to a few months if the fever has caused heart problems.
What are Factors That Can Increase the Risk of Catching Rheumatic Fever
Certain factors can increase the chances of your child developing rheumatic fever. These include:
- family history—certain genes make it more likely to develop rheumatic fever
- type of strep throat bacteria present—certain strains are more likely to lead to rheumatic fever than others
- environmental factors present in developing countries, including poor sanitation, overcrowding, and lack of clean water
How to Prevent Rheumatic Fever?
The best way to prevent rheumatic fever is to fully treat all strep throat and scarlet fever infections. Make sure your child completes all prescribed doses of medication. In addition, schedule a follow-up visit to ensure that your child is free from the strep bacteria antibodies.
What are Complications Associated with Rheumatic Fever?
Once they develop, the symptoms of rheumatic fever can last for months. Rheumatic fever can cause long-term complications in certain situations. One of the most prevalent complications is rheumatic heart disease. Other heart conditions include:
- valve stenosis—a narrowing of the valve
- valve regurgitation—a leak in the valve that causes blood to flow in the wrong direction
- heart muscle damage—inflammation can weaken the heart muscle, which can decrease the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively
- atrial fibrillation—irregular heartbeat (in the upper chambers)
- heart failure—the heart can no longer pump blood to all parts of the body
What is Outlook for RF?
The long-term effects of rheumatic fever can be disabling if your child had a severe case. Some of the damage caused by the illness might not show up until years later. Be aware of long-term effects as your child grows older. Children who suffer from long-term damage related to rheumatic fever may be eligible for special education and other related services.