What is rheumatic fever?

It’s an inflammatory reaction that can occur after a streptococcal infection of the throat (“strep throat”). Most strep throat infections don’t lead to rheumatic fever. When they do, the time between the strep throat and rheumatic fever is about two to four weeks. Rheumatic fever is not contagious; however, the strep infection that comes before it is catching. If a strep throat infection is treated, rheumatic fever can almost always be prevented. Anyone can get rheumatic fever, but those who do are often 5 to 15 years old.

If you allow strep throat to go untreated, it can turn into an illness called rheumatic fever. If strep throat progresses to rheumatic fever, it can cause damage to the heart’s valves and reduce the ability of your heart to effectively pump blood to the rest of your body. Severe damage to the heart’s valves can lead to heart failure.

Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that occurs after a person experiences strep throat, which is an infection of the throat caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria. Symptoms of rheumatic fever include joint pain, chest pain, fever, fatigue and skin rashes and nodules (bumps under the skin). Both strep throat and rheumatic fever are treated with antibiotics. Patients who are diagnosed with rheumatic fever may need to take low levels of antibiotics for months or years to prevent reoccurrences of the disease.

Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that may develop after an infection with Streptococcus bacteria (such as strep throat or scarlet fever). The disease can affect the heart, joints, skin, and brain. Rheumatic fever is rare in developed countries as a result of adequate treatment of infections with group A streptococcus bacteria. However, Rheumatic fever still occurs in developing nations and can cause permanent damage to the heart

Rheumatic fever results from an infection caused by certain strains of streptococcal bacteria and may be triggered by a strep infection (most often strep throat) that has not been treated. Proper treatment of strep infection can prevent rheumatic fever.

Rheumatic fever affects the joints and heart, causing symptoms similar to arthritis as well as heart problems (rheumatic heart disease). Rheumatic fever may also affect the skin, brain, and other organs and tissues. Most of the damage caused by rheumatic fever is temporary. But if any heart damage occurs, it is usually permanent.