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Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease

Febris rheumatica · Revmatická horečka a revmatická choroba srdeční

What it is

An immune reaction to streptococcal throat infection that scars heart valves. Still common where penicillin is not.

Symptoms & signs

  • Fever and migrating joint pain weeks after a sore throat
  • new murmur
  • jerky movements (chorea)
  • skin nodules and rash

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Breathless at rest, chest pain or fainting
  • see a doctor soon Swollen, painful joints that move from one to another after a sore throat
  • see a doctor soon Jerky movements you cannot control, weeks after a throat infection
  • see a doctor soon Worse breathlessness or swollen ankles in someone with valve disease

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Penicillin to clear the streptococcus
  • anti-inflammatories
  • monthly benzathine penicillin for years
  • valve surgery later

Natural & lifestyle

  • Treat streptococcal sore throat properly
  • adherence to prophylaxis injections
  • dental hygiene

Emerging & experimental

  • Group A strep vaccines in development
  • echo screening programmes

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Herbal throat remedies in place of penicillin — leave the streptococcus to scar the valves anecdotal / traditional
  • Anti-inflammatory herbs for the joint pain — untested anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes