Transcript Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic
Heart Disease
• Rheumatic Fever
• Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that is
developed when the streptococcal bacteria is not treated.
This bacteria is the cause of strep throat and scarlet fever.
While adults can get Rheumatic fever, it is typically a
children’s illness, especially for children between the ages
of 5 – 16.
• The inflammation caused by rheumatic fever impacts the
major organs, including the heart, skin, joints and nervous
system. When it does impact the heart it typically damages
the valves making it hard for the heart to manage the flow
of blood in and out of the heart. This can cause congestive
heart failure.
Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic
Heart Disease
Rheumatic Heart Disease
• In some cases rheumatic fever(40%～50%)causes
long-term damage to the heart and its valves,
which called Rheumatic heart disease. it is a rare
form of heart disease that typically impacts
children. It is caused by having rheumatic fever,
which itself is a complication from the strep
throat bacteria. The inflammation from
rheumatic fever causes the heart valves to
become weaker and not push through the blood
as they should, thus creating heart disease.
Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic
Heart Disease
The symptoms of rheumatic fever
• Arthritis: swelling, redness and pain in the joints,
especially knees, ankles, elbows and wrists
• Splotchy rash that doesn’t itch
• Subcutaneous nodules: tiny, hard lumps under
the skin
• Fever
• Chorea: involuntary movement
Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic
Heart Disease
Symptoms of Rheumatic Heart Disease
• Fever
• Swollen and red joints
• Nodules over the swollen joints
• Skin rashes
• Breathlessness
• Fatigue
• Chest pain
• Fainting attacks
• Palpitations
• Uncontrolled movements of facial muscles, legs and arms
Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic
Heart Disease
Treatment:
The best way to deal with rheumatic heart disease is to
prevent it. Aggressive treatment of strep throat (with
antibiotics) and of rheumatic fever (should it occur) can
help to limit rheumatic heart disease. Penicillin, aspirin
and other medicines are used to treat rheumatic fever.
• Surgery – to repair or replace the valves that are
impacted.
• Antibiotics
• Anti-inflammatory medicine
• Congestive heart failure medications
Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic
Heart Disease
Prevent:
• The best way to avoid rheumatic heart disease
is to treat strep throat when has it. Start use
antibiotic immediately. When strep is treated
it does not have the opportunity to turn into
rheumatic fever and cause heart problems.