Sign in  |  Register

Illustrated Health Encyclopedia
[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Ency. home > Disease > R > Rheumatic fever

Rheumatic fever   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Acute rheumatic fever

Definition:

A systemic inflammatory disease which may develop after an infection with streptococcus bacteria (such as strep throat or scarlet fever) and can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain.

Causes and Risks

Rheumatic fever is common worldwide and is responsible for many cases of damaged heart valves.  While it is far less common in the U.S. since the beginning of the 20th century, there have been a few outbreaks since the 1980s.

Rheumatic fever affects primarily children between 6-15 and occurs approximately 20 days (usually within 1 to 5 weeks) after strep throat or scarlet fever.  In up to a third of cases, the underlying streptococcal infection may not have caused any symptoms.  The rate of development of acute rheumatic fever in individuals with untreated streptococcal infection is estimated to be 3%.  Persons who have suffered a case of  rheumatic fever have a tendency to develop flare-ups with repeated streptococcal infections.

Ency. home > Disease > R > Rheumatic fever

[an error occurred while processing this directive]