Before antibiotic medicines became widely utilised, rheumatic fever was the largest trigger of valve disease. Rheumatic fever can be a condition which is a complication of untreated strep throat. Strep throat is caused by a group A streptococcal infection discovered within the throat.
Rheumatic fever can harm body tissues by causing them to swell, but its greatest danger lies inside the harm it can do to your heart. Much more than half of the time, rheumatic fever leads to scarring of the heart's valves. This scarring can narrow the valve and make it harder for the valve to open properly or to close entirely. In turn, your heart has to function harder to pump blood to the rest of your body. This valve damage can lead to a condition known as rheumatic heart disease, which, in time, can lead to congestive heart failure.
Rheumatic fever isn't an infection itself, rather the result of an untreated strep infection. When the body senses the strep infection, it sends antibodies to fight it. Often, these antibodies attack the tissues of joints or the heart instead. If the antibodies attack the heart they are able to trigger the heart valves to swell, which can lead to scarring of the valve "doors." (The doors are known as leaflets.) The scarred leaflets make it harder for the valve to either open or close correctly, or both.
The symptoms of rheumatic fever commonly start 1 to 6 weeks immediately after a strep infection. The symptoms are fever, joint pain or swelling within your wrists, elbows, knees, or ankles. Small bumps under the skin over elbows or knees (known as nodules). Possibly a modest raised red rash on the chest, back, or stomach, expertise stomach pain or feeling less hungry. Weakness, shortness of breath, or feeling extremely tired
Please remember that Rheumatic Fever requirements immediate medical attention!
Author Resource:
Ronaldo Santagize is an avid fanatic of the automotive industry. He really likes to be outside any opportunity he gets. Check out his site 4 wheel lift kits to see all of his 1987 Toyota 4x4 Lift Kits
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")