One of the major complications of rheumatic fever is permanent damage to the heart, including damaged heart valves and heart failure. This is known as rheumatic heart disease and usually occurs years to decades after the original illness. However, severe rheumatic fever can start to damage the heartRead more
One of the major complications of rheumatic fever is permanent damage to the heart, including damaged heart valves and heart failure. This is known as rheumatic heart disease and usually occurs years to decades after the original illness. However, severe rheumatic fever can start to damage the heart valves while your child still has symptoms of the infection.
Another complication of rheumatic fever is valve stenosis, where the valve can have problems supporting proper blood flow, usually caused by a failure of the valve to open properly. When the aortic valve is compromised, the blood flowing from the left ventricle to the aorta is impeded.
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Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that can develop when strep throat (sore throat that comes on suddenly, pain when swallowing, fever, headache, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting) or scarlet fever isn't properly treated. Symptoms of rheumatic fever usually start about 2 to 4 weeks after a sRead more
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that can develop when strep throat (sore throat that comes on suddenly, pain when swallowing, fever, headache, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting) or scarlet fever isn’t properly treated. Symptoms of rheumatic fever usually start about 2 to 4 weeks after a strep throat infection. Symptoms are due to swelling, called inflammation, in the heart, joints, skin or central nervous system. There may be few symptoms or several. Rheumatic fever symptoms can include:
– Fever
See less– Joint pain or swelling — most often the knees, ankles, elbows and wrists. Joints may feel hot or tender.
– Pain in one joint that travels to another joint
– Chest pain
– Fatigue
– Small, painless bumps beneath the skin
– Flat or slightly raised, painless rash with a ragged edge