Rheumatic Fever

Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that may develop after a Group A streptococcal infection (such as strep throat or scarlet fever ) and can comprise the heart, joints, skin, and brain. Tho' rheumatic fever can occur at any age, it most frequently occurs in children between the ages of 6 and 15 years. Rheumatic fever can damage body tissues by causing them to swell, but its prominent danger lies in the damage it can do to your heart. Overfull living conditions seem to increase the risk of rheumatic fever, and heredity seems to play a part.

In the United States, a child who has a streptococcal throat infection but is not treated has only a 0.4 to 1% chance of developing rheumatic fever. It is a systemic immune disease which may occur after an infection with streptococcus bacteria, such as strep throat and scarlet fever. In recent years, although, it has begun to make a repartee in the United States particularly among children living in poor, inner-city neighborhoods. But it can be prevented by punctual and thorough treatment of a strep throat infection with antibiotics.

The rate of growth of rheumatic fever in individuals with untempered strep infection is estimated to be 3%. The rate of development is far lower in individuals who have canonicaled antibiotic treatment. Rheumatic fever complies streptococcal infections of the throat but not those of the skin (impetigo) or other areas of the body the reasons are not known.

Rheumatic fever used to be a indeed common disease amongst children until about the middle of the 20th century. In most cases, rheumatic fever may affect the heart valves (rheumatic carditis) and butt in with normal blood flow through the heart. This is a nervous disorder occurring principally in childhood or during pregnancy, closely associated with rheumatic fever, which is characterized by rapid, jerky, involuntary movements of the body.

More serious cases can cause the muscles of the arms, legs, or face to yank uncontrollably. The joints most prone to become swollen from rheumatic fever are the knees, ankles, elbows, and wrists. Through a period of months or even years specifically if the disease strikes again this damage to the heart can lead to a serious condition known as rheumatic heart disease, which can eventually cause the heart to fail (see " heart failure " to learn more about this serious disease). The disease tends to affect most often in cool, damp weather during the winter and early spring.  In the United States, it is most frequent in the northern states.

Causes of Rheumatic Fever

The common Causes of Rheumatic Fever :

• Streptococcus.
• Group A streptococcus.
• Strep throat.
• Scarlet fever.

Symptoms of Rheumatic Fever

Some Symptoms of Rheumatic Fever :

• Muscle aches.
• Joint swelling; redness or warmth.
• Confusion.
• Headache.
• Vomitig.
• Fever.
• Red and swollen tonsils.
• Abdominal pain.
• Sore throat.
• Weakness.
• Fatigue.
• Cough.

Treatment of Rheumatic Fever

• The length of bed rest will be decreed by your child's physician, based on the severity of your child's disease and the involvement of the heart and joints. Bed rest may range from two to twelve weeks.
• Keep fingernails short on young children to prevent them from damaging the skin.
• Depend on the severity of your child's condition, your child's physician may prescribe medications to help decrease the swelling that occurs in the heart muscle, as well as to relieve joint pain.
• Paracetamol when essential for fever, headache or throat pain.
• The proximate goal is to treat the infection with antibiotics. This is done even if the throat culture is negative. Following the pioneer treatment for strep infection, your child may continue to receive monthly doses of antibiotics to help prevent further complications.