What
is rheumatic fever mean?
Rheumatic fever is an
inflammatory disease that can happen after a person becomes infected with the Streptococcus bacteria.
It is common condition found in young children’s.
Causes
of rheumatic fever
Generally post streptococcal infection of throat is
common cause for rheumatic fever. In few cases scarlet fever may be associated
with it.
How does it happen?
Stptoccocal
throat infection is responsible for the development of rheumatic fever.
Streptococcus pyogen secrets toxin which act as
antigens for body cells .B cell activate and proliferates antibodies to
neutralize antigenic toxin which further
deposits on wall of heart valves leading to either stenosis or prolapsed valve. The Rheumatic Fever begins with chills stage
then heat, trachycardia, intense thirst, loss of appetite and weakness. Antigen
aggregation may lead to nodule formation underneath the skin .
Who are at Risk?
·
Children ages 5 to 15 year, particularly if
they have repeated strep throat infections.
·
Children having family history of rheumatic
fever.
What are Symptoms and signs?
Rheumatic fever has
following sign and symptoms:
·
Painful joints swelling on the ankles, knees,
elbows, and wrists.
·
Radiating pain in joint
·
Swelling of joint
·
small nodules under the skin specially on bony prominence of leg
·
chest palpitations
·
Weakness
·
narrow breathing
·
confusion of thoughts
·
sweating specially on palm
·
jumpy uncontrollable hand, feet movements
with face twitching
Talk to doctor and
get advice on sign and symptoms of Rheumatic fever.
What is Complication of rheumatic fever?
·
mitral valve stenosis
·
mitral valve prolapse
·
tricuspid valve
regurgitation
·
cardiac arrhythmia
·
atrial fibrillation
·
heart failure
·
rheumatic arthritis
Diagnosis,
Test & Interpretations
Rheumatic fever is diagnosed with proper history of streptococcal throat
infection along with other test includes:
·
Mainly
diagnosis is done on past history with physical observation of skin nodules.
·
movement
tests to determine nervous system dysfunction
·
blood
tests for streptococcal antigen ratio I.e. ASR titer
·
ECG
·
echocardiography
What
are treatment Recommendations
A. Lifestyle
changes
·
Restrict physical activities until
inflammation, pain and other symptoms have improved.
·
Strict bed rest if inflammation in cardiac
muscles is present.
B. Medications
Rheumatic
fever if not treated properly it may cause several cardiac problems so, it
should be treated with proper course of medication.
Antibiotic
·
Penicillin
·
Erthryromycin
Anti
inflammatory medicine
·
Aspirin
·
Prednisone
ACE
inhibitors
·
Enalapril
·
Captopril
C. Special Care
The
only known way to prevent rheumatic fever is to treat strep throat infections
or scarlet fever promptly with a full course of appropriate antibiotics.
Prevention
·
The only known way to prevent rheumatic fever
is to treat strep throat infections or scarlet fever promptly with a full
course of appropriate antibiotics.
·
Treat acute
streptococcal pharyngitis immediately.
Type of doctor to be
visited?
·
Cardiologist
·
Any
qualified medical physician
·
Rheumatologist