Rheumatic, << roo MAT ihk, >> fever is a disease that occurs primarily in children from 5 to 15 years old. It also strikes younger children and adults. Rheumatic fever gets its name from its most common symptoms—rheumatism (inflammation of the joints) and fever. The disease may last several weeks or months. Rheumatic fever can cause permanent damage to the valves of the heart.
Rheumatic fever is caused by bacteria called streptococci. People who develop the disease have had a recent streptococcal infection, such as strep throat. The streptococci subsequently trigger the immune system to attack the body’s own tissues.
Before antibiotic drugs were developed in the mid-1900’s, rheumatic fever with its resulting valve damage was a leading cause of heart disease throughout the world. Today, prompt treatment of streptococcal infections with penicillin and other antibiotics usually prevents rheumatic fever, and the disease has become rare in industrialized countries. However, rheumatic fever remains a problem in many developing nations.
The first symptoms of rheumatic fever usually occur a few weeks after the streptococcal infection. Common symptoms include fever; with pain and swelling in such joints as the elbows, wrists, knees, or ankles. Nodules (lumps) may develop under the skin over bony areas and a mild rash sometimes occurs. Some patients develop chorea, a condition marked by jerky, involuntary movements (see Chorea).
Mild to severe carditis (inflammation of the heart) occurs in many cases of rheumatic fever. Severe carditis can lead to heart failure. Both mild and severe carditis can cause permanent damage to the heart valves resulting in the condition called rheumatic heart disease. In rheumatic heart disease, the damaged valves no longer open and close properly, and the resulting turbulent passage of blood produces a sound called a heart murmur (see Heart murmur). Severe rheumatic heart disease can lead to heart failure. Surgical replacement of badly damaged valves may prevent this outcome.
