What is rheumatic fever disease?
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that can develop when strep throat or scarlet fever isn’t properly treated. Strep throat and scarlet fever are caused by an infection with streptococcus (strep-toe-KOK-us) bacteria.
Which virus causes rheumatic fever?
Rheumatic fever is caused by a bacterium called group A Streptococcus. This bacterium causes strep throat or, in a small percentage of people, scarlet fever. It’s an inflammatory disorder. Rheumatic fever causes the body to attack its own tissues.
How is rheumatic fever diagnosed?
Tests for rheumatic fever might include:
- Blood tests. Blood tests can be done to check for signs (markers) of inflammation in the blood.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This test records the electrical activity of the heart.
- Echocardiogram. Sound waves are used to create pictures of the heart in motion.
Is rheumatic fever genetic?
Rheumatic fever is likely inherited in a multifactorial manner, which means it is caused by multiple genes interacting with each other and with environmental factors .
What is a common serious complication of rheumatic fever?
The most serious complication of rheumatic fever is rheumatic heart disease (RHD). RHD is the most common cause of heart problems in children worldwide and can lead to damage to the heart valves and chronic heart failure.
Can rheumatic fever cause problems later in life?
Heart valve damage: Heart valve damage can appear even 10 to 30 years after the initial infection with the following complications: Valve stenosis (narrowing of the valve) Ruptured heart valve (medical emergency that may need surgery to replace or repair the heart valve) Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)
How does rheumatic fever affect the brain?
In recent years attention has been directed to the occurrence of rheumatic obliterating arteritis in the brain of persons with rheumatic heart disease. This late cerebral sequel of rheumatic fever involves mainly the small meningeal and cortical vessels, producing gross or microscopic softenings in the cortex.
Is there a vaccine for rheumatic fever?
Currently, there are no licensed vaccines for Strep A which could prevent rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease and those in clinical development may not protect against the specific strains circulating in New Zealand and Australia.
How is RHD treated?
Treatment. Treatment of RHD usually requires young people to have regular antibiotics which prevent further attacks of ARF and damage to heart valves. Penicillin is the most commonly used antibiotic and is often given as an injection every 3 – 4 weeks.