123ArticleOnline Logo
Welcome to 123ArticleOnline.com!
ALL >> Health >> View Article

What Causes Rheumatic Fever?

Profile Picture
By Author: Rob Thomas
Total Articles: 4762
Comment this article
Facebook ShareTwitter ShareGoogle+ ShareTwitter Share

Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disease that usually occurs after a group A streptococcal throat infection. It usually causes inflammatory lesions in connective tissues especially in the heart, blood vessels, joints and so on. The disease has been known since 1500s but the relation between rheumatic fever symptom and throat infection was not discovered till the 1880s. Mostly, it was thought to be associated with scarlet fever, in the 1900s. During that time, penicillin was not invented, so most of the children dies due to this disease. It has many symptoms and can attack almost any part of the body such as the skin, joints, heart and brain. It is also observed that the fever is repetitive in middle aged people (those who are 20-40 years).

There are numerous causes of this disease. Sore throat or strep throat is one of the main cause and is mainly because of the A streptococcus bacteria. There is an established pattern and it is observed that rheumatic fever generally accompanies scarlet fever and a sore throat. It never usually occurs due to infections in other parts of the body. It is usually essential to treat sore ...
... throat with antibiotics to avoid this fever. What makes it a little dangerous, is there are no exact causes of this fever.

What are the symptoms of this almost-eradicated disease? There can be inflammatory sensation in the joints, central nervous system and the heart and these signs are pretty good indications of a person suffering from a case of rheumatic fever. It has also been noted that the signs vary from person to person. Some of the other symptoms are listed as below:

Chest pain
Fever
Shortness of breath
Joint pain
Nodules below skin
Tenderness in skin
Rash on skin
Inflammation of the heart
Jerky movements
Weight loss
Fatigue

Although it is a serious ailment, there is cure for it too. There are no actual cure for this disease, but some medicaton is usually provided to reduce the sensation of inflammation. The streptococcal infection can be prevented by providing penicillin to the patient. To combat the fever, aspirin is usually given to reduce the fever. To reduce the swelling and the joint pains, corticosteroids is given. The best and the most reliable treatment is, bed rest. It usually helps the patients to heal and of course, the intke of fluids is a must. The patient must have around 6-8 glasses of water to have the energy to fight the disease.

The fever has numerous complications too. Due to initial attack, some people may take a turn for the worse such as rheumatic heart disease which causes problems in heart due to the fever, sydenham chorea which give rise to spasms in the body, endocarditis which deal with endocardium, Arrhythmias which is a disorder in the heart rhythm and so on. There is no said way of preventing this fever. Most doctors do not know how to reduce the speed of the damage to the valves of the heart. Thus, before the disease gets too severe, it is best to start the treatment as soon as possible.
About Author:
Please visit this link for more information on Rheumatic Fever and this link for information on Heart Disease.

Total Views: 145Word Count: 526See All articles From Author

Add Comment

Health Articles

1. Top Chiropractic Billing Mistakes That Hurt Your Practice’s Revenue
Author: infohubconsultancy

2. A Comprehensive Guide To Pet Respiratory Support
Author: VetSupply

3. Are Premium Supplements Worth The Price? Benefits Of Best Health Supplement
Author: John Smith

4. Exploring How Digital Imaging Has Revolutionized Diagnostic Processes
Author: Vheartcare

5. Discover Comfortable Root Canal Care For A Healthy Smile
Author: Dr Abhilash

6. Choosing The Right Hair Transplant Clinic In Ahmedabad: What To Know In 2025
Author: new touch

7. Pet Pain Relief: The Complete Vet-approved Guide For Caring Pet Parents
Author: VetSupply

8. What Is Implant Supported Overdenture?
Author: Perio PDX

9. Ivf Centre In Saudi Arabia: Global Choices From Uae To South Africa For Your Parenthood Journey
Author: Juhi Fertility

10. Top Occurrence Codes Used In Snf Billing And What They Mean
Author: Charlie Robinson

11. For Effective Weight Loss And A Fit Body And Mind Get Enrolled In A Weight Loss Clinic!
Author: Alexis Pelloe

12. Enjoy An Adult Massage To Calm Your Mind And Soul
Author: Emma Brain

13. From Tooth Loss To Confidence: The Impact Of Dental Prosthetics
Author: Ansley Colton

14. Nitrous Oxide Vs. Oral Sedation For Kids: Which Is Safer?
Author: Pat

15. Dr. Tirumala Prasad: The Foremost Robotic Surgeon
Author: Dr.Tirumala Prasad

Login To Account
Login Email:
Password:
Forgot Password?
New User?
Sign Up Newsletter
Email Address: