Rheumatic Fever

Rheumatic fever is the end result of not having a properly treated strep throat. When you have a strep throat, it is caused by a streptococcus group of bacteria. This complication of strep can develop most frequently in children, but has been known to appear in adults as well. This illness can cause damage to the joints, brain, spinal cord, skin, and heart problems. Symptomatology:

Painful joints that swell

Having angina (chest pains)

Tiredness

Having shortness of breath

Red rash or light pink rash

Fevers

It is not all that uncommon to have permanent heart damage from this complication of strep throats. This is known as rheumatic heart disease. Normal blood flow becomes disturbed within the heart valves.

You should see your doctor if you are having strep throat symptoms along with a high fever, and are also having a breathing problem along with chest discomfort. Strep does not necessarily lead into this condition, but if the above symptoms are obvious, this may be the case.

Diagnosis of Strep

To diagnose this illness, doctors will look at first of all, your last strep infection or current strep. Strep infection will have signs like:

Sore throat that feels raw

Swollen and red tonsils

Fevers that can be as high as 102 or more

Tiredness

Children have ab pains

Lymph nodes that are sore to the touch

Headaches

Aches all over the body and general unwellness

Diagnosing Rheumatic Fever

Doctors will look at joints for pain and inflammation and look over the skin for rashes or any lumps present.

Listening to the heart for sounds that are not normal or normal will also be done along with an EKG.

Doctors may see whether or not you have movements that are jerky since this is part of the illness sometimes.

A diagnosis is uaually confirmed if you have heart inflammation and swollen joints.

Treatments once found

Doctors will treat this problem with an aggressive round of antibiotics and some doctors give antibiotics by shot periodically to stop this medical problem from recurring again and again which can happen if not treated aggressively the first time.

Doctors will also treat with corticosteroids usually if you are having severe heart inflammation due to this condition.