Does rheumatic fever cause heart damage?

If rheumatic fever is not treated promptly, long-term heart damage (called rheumatic heart disease) may occur. Rheumatic heart disease weakens the valves between the chambers of the heart. Severe rheumatic heart disease can require heart surgery and result in death.

Why is the heart affected in rheumatic fever?

How does rheumatic fever damage the heart? This infection causes swelling and muscle damage to the heart. It can also damage the heart valves in a way that keeps the blood from moving through the heart normally. The infection can cause heart valve leaflets to stick together, which narrows the valve opening.

What part of the heart is affected by rheumatic fever?

Although rheumatic fever can affect any heart valve, it most commonly affects the mitral valve which lies between the two chambers of the left side of the heart. The damage can cause valve stenosis, valve regurgitation and/or damage to the heart muscle.

What is the most common complication of rheumatic fever?

Rheumatic fever can cause long-term complications in certain situations. One of the most prevalent complications is rheumatic heart disease. Other heart conditions include: Aortic valve stenosis.

Is rheumatic heart disease permanent?

There is no cure for rheumatic heart disease and the damage to the heart valves are permanent. Patients with severe rheumatic heart disease will often require surgery to replace or repair the damages valve or valves.

Can rheumatic fever cause arthritis later in life?

However, the associated arthritis may last for some time. Heart inflammation (carditis), chorea and arthritis are complications of rheumatic fever that can occur singly or in combination.

What heart damage is seen in rheumatic heart disease?

Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which the heart valves have been permanently damaged by rheumatic fever. The heart valve damage may start shortly after untreated or under-treated streptococcal infection such as strep throat or scarlet fever.

How long can you live with rheumatic heart disease?

The relative survival was 96.9% (95% CI 96.1–97.5%) at one year and 81.2% (95% CI 79.2–83.0%) at five years (S3 Fig). The risk of death among RHD/ARF patients increased with age over and above background rates; there was also increased risk for both male and iTaukei patients (S4 Table).

Is rheumatic heart disease fatal?

Rheumatic heart disease is a chronic, disabling and sometimes fatal disease that is entirely preventable.

Can rheumatic fever come back in adulthood?

Rheumatic fever is a very rare complication that can develop after a bacterial throat infection. It can cause painful joints and heart problems. Most people make a full recovery, but it can come back.

Is rheumatic fever an autoimmune disease?

Rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that may develop after an infection with group A Streptococcus bacteria. Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that may develop after an infection with group A Streptococcus bacteria (such as strep throat or scarlet fever).

What are the symptoms of Romantic Fever?

Symptoms usually pass within a few months but can last up to 2 years. They are not normally permanent. Other symptoms include a red, blotchy, skin rash, which appears in 1 in 10 cases. Less common are nosebleeds, abdominal pain, bumps and lumps, or nodules, under the skin, and a high fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can heart problems cause fever?

Fever in some degree occurs in a large proportion of patients with congestive heart failure. A slight increase in temperature may possibly be dependent on the increase in the metabolic rate which many patients exhibit, but fever of more considerable magnitude usually signifies infection, infarction, or thrombus formation.