What are the common symptoms of rheumatic fever?

In rheumatic fever (also called rheumatic heart disease), the heart valves are damaged by substances (antibodies) that the body produces to fight streptococcal (strep) infection.

It is not clear why, but rheumatic heart disease affects only a small percentage of those infected with strep throat or other strep infections. Because of the availability of medicines to treat strep infections, rheumatic fever is no longer as common in the United States. 

Symptoms of damage to the heart’s valves caused by rheumatic fever may not be noticed for some time. Eventually, damaged heart valves can cause serious, even disabling, problems. These problems depend on how severe the damage is and which heart valve is affected. The most advanced condition is congestive heart failure, in which an enlarged heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to the body.

There are other symptoms associated with rheumatic fever that are not heart related. These include joint pain and swelling that changes through different joints, skin rash (typically on the trunk or arms), subcutaneous nodules (painless bumps that typically appear on the back of the wrist, outside elbow, or front of the knees), or abnormal rapid limb movements (Sydenham’s chorea).

Sudden onset of a sore throat, especially with painful swallowing

• Fever
• Tender, swollen glands under the jaw angle