Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease as a consequence of streptococcal pharyngitis or poor scarlet fever. Streptococcal pharyngitis and scarlet fever are caused by a bacterium called streptococcus.
Rheumatic fever can affect anyone, but occurs more in children and adolescents between 5 and 15 years. It is a more typical disease in developing countries. Its consequences can be diverse, causing chronic heart damage.
Causes of rheumatic fever
Group A streptococcus bacteria
Rheumatic fever is, many times, a consequence of a throat infection caused by a streptococcus bacterium of group A. This bacteria generally causes streptococcal pharyngitis and, on little occasions, scarlet fever. Sometimes, this infection causes rheumatic fever. Because this connection between streptococcal infections and rheumatic fever is not evident.
The most accepted explanation is that the streptococcus deceives the immune system that, in addition to attacking the bacteria, attacks some body tissues, often the heart, the skin and the central nervous system and cause inflammations.
When the infection is treated quickly with antibiotics, it is very difficult for rheumatic fever to appear. When it appears, it usually does it between two and four weeks after early infection. It has also been shown that there is a certain genetic component that predisposes to this disease.
Symptoms of rheumatic fever
Symptomatic variety
The symptoms of rheumatic fever are diverse. These are the most frequent:
– fever superior to 38ºC.
– Feeling of tiredness.
– joint pain.
– Redness and heat in the joints.
– Chest pain.
– Cardiac breath.
– Erythema
– Spasmodic and intermittent movements.
Diagnosis of rheumatic fever
Laboratory analysis
The first step is for the doctor to study the medical history and perform a physical evaluation of the patient. Then you will need the results of a blood test to demonstrate if there are antibodies of the streptococci in the blood and calculate the erythrosedimentation speed. It will also perform tests (electrocardiogram and echocardiogram) to know the state of the heart.
Treatment and medication of rheumatic fever
Antibiotics
The treatment seeks to eliminate the presence of the streptococcal bacteria of Group A. For this, the administration of antibiotics is essential, including penicillin in certain cases. Sometimes, this medication endures for years. It is complemented with anti -inflammatory and anticonvulsive medication (provided the patient has seizures).
Rheumatic Fever prevention
Eliminate causes
The route of rheumatic fever prevention goes through adequate treatment of streptococcal or scarleting pharyngitis.
#Rheumatic #fever #symptoms #treat
