How does rheumatic fever enter the body

Anti-inflammatory treatments include pain medications that are also anti-inflammatory , such as aspirin Bayer or naproxen Aleve, Naprosyn. Doctors may also prescribe a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation. Strict bed rest will be recommended for a few weeks to a few months if the fever has caused heart problems.

This means ensuring your child completes all prescribed doses of medication. Practicing proper hygiene methods can help prevent strep throat:. Once they develop, the symptoms of rheumatic fever can last for months or even years. Rheumatic fever can cause long-term complications in certain situations. One of the most prevalent complications is rheumatic heart disease. Other heart conditions include:. The long-term effects of rheumatic fever can be disabling if your child has 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. If your child does experience long-term damage related to rheumatic fever, there are support services available to help them and your family.

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation and pain in the throat. We explain the common signs, diagnostic tests, treatment…. Scarlet fever is a condition that can develop in people, usually children, who have strep throat.

In: Kliegman RM, St. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Mayosi BM. Rheumatic fever. Shulman ST, Jaggi P. Nonsuppurative poststreptococcal sequelae: rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis. Nonpneumococcal streptococcal infections and rheumatic fever. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Updated by: Linda J. Editorial team. Symptoms can affect many systems in the body. General symptoms may include: Fever Nosebleeds Pain in the abdomen Heart problems, which may have no symptoms, or may lead to shortness of breath and chest pain Symptoms in the joints can: Cause pain, swelling, redness, and warmth Mainly occur in the knees, elbows, ankles, and wrists Change or move from one joint to another Skin changes may also occur, such as: Ring-shaped or snake-like skin rash on the trunk and upper part of the arms or legs Skin lumps or nodules A condition that affects the brain and nervous system, called Sydenham chorea can also occur.

Symptoms of this condition are: Loss of control of emotions, with bouts of unusual crying or laughing Quick, jerky movements that mainly affect the face, feet, and hands. Exams and Tests. Tests may include: Blood test for repeated strep infection such as an ASO test Complete blood count CBC Electrocardiogram ECG Sedimentation rate ESR -- a test that measures inflammation in the body Several factors called major and minor criteria have been developed to help diagnose rheumatic fever in a standard way.

And, although antibiotic medicines have reduced the number of cases of rheumatic fever in developed countries, there are still thousands of reported cases. Symptoms of rheumatic fever usually begin 1 to 6 weeks after you have had a strep infection. They are. Your doctor will begin by doing a throat culture to find out if you have a strep infection.

Then, your doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your heart. He or she will also look for nodules on your joints. Rheumatic fever must be treated right away. If you have a sore throat that lasts longer than 3 days, or if you have a fever and headache along with your sore throat, you should see your doctor for a throat culture. Even if you do not have a sore throat but have a fever and a skin rash, this could also mean a strep infection, and you should get tested. In 8 out of 10 cases, the signs and symptoms of RF resolve within 12 weeks.

Between 30 and 45 percent of people with RF will develop heart problems. Recurrences of rheumatic fever often occur within 5 years. In the past, RF was a major cause of mortality, but now this is rare in industrialized countries.

However, RF is fatal in 1. Environmental factors, such as overcrowding, poor sanitation, and poor access to healthcare increase the risk of developing RF. Leaving strep throat or scarlet fever untreated or partially treated by not finishing a complete course of antibiotics increases the risk of RF significantly. Endocarditis is a potentially serious infection and inflammation of the heart muscles and valves.

Practicing good dental hygiene could help prevent it. Glandular fever, or infectious mononucleosis, stems from a viral infection. It causes fatigue, swollen glands, a sore throat, and other symptoms. If a person has a sore throat, checking the tonsils can help to identify the cause.

Several conditions can cause white spots to appear on the tonsils…. Rheumatic fever: What you need to know. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Symptoms Treatment Diagnosis Complications Causes Outlook Risk factors Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory reaction that can develop as a complication of a Group A streptococcal infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever.

Share on Pinterest Rheumatic fever is a complication of some types of streptococcal infection. Share on Pinterest Rheumatic fever can cause heart disease in children.