eCureMe logo
  eCureMe home eCureMe log In Sign Up!
eCureMe Life : Your Healthy Living. Click Here!
Welcome, eCureMe.com medical contents search April 25, 2013
       eCureMe Life
       Medical Supplies
       Calorie Count
       Self-Diagnosis
       Physician Search
       Message Board
      E-mail Doctor
      E-mail Veterinarian
      Self-Diagnosis
      Health-O-Matic Meter
      Calorie Count
      Natural Medicine
      Vitamins & Minerals
      Alternative Living
      My Health Chart
      Diseases & Treatments
      Atlas of Diseases
      Sexually Transmitted
      Diseases
      Drug Information
      Illegal Drugs
      Lab & Diagnostic Tests
      Internal Medicine
      Women’s Health
      Pediatrics
      Eye Disorders
      Skin Disorders
      Headache
      Mental Health
      Radiology
      Neurology
      Allergy
      Resource Links
      Physician Directory
      Dentist Directory
      Hospital Directory





Adult RF

more about Adult RF


Rheumatic fever or RF

  • Rheumatic Fever is an inflammation that may follow an infectious episode of the group  Streptococcus bacteria -- usually of the throat. In RF there may be heart (carditis) and multiple joint (polyarthritis) damage.  RF also may affect the skin (rash, nodules) and the nervous system (e.g., abnormal involuntary movements).

  • Joint swelling and tenderness
  • May involve many joints
  • Fever
  • Skin rash (erythema marginatum) and nodules (painless, hard swellings under the skin and overlying bones)
  • Nose bleeds (epistaxis)
  • Symptoms of RF often occur within 7-35 days after infection.
  • In some, symptoms of RF may last 3 months or longer.
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Sydenham's chorea -- jerky, involuntary, purposeless movements (of legs and arms), muscle weakness, Speech Problems, and emotional instability

  • Throat infection with the group A Streptococcus (pharyngitis, scarlet fever) may start an
    autoimmune reaction in which the body's defenses, in the process of attacking the bacteria (using Proteins known as antibodies), may damage or cause inflammation -- swelling, irritation, and pain -- to certain body parts, such as the skin, heart valves, joints, and brain.
  • The autoimmune response leads to RF.

  • History of symptoms, illnesses, recent infections, allergies, surgeries, habits
  • Medical exam:
    1. Fever
    2. Rash or nodules
    3. Swollen tender joints
    4. Chorea may be present
    5. Using a stethoscope, the doctor may hear an abnormal flow of blood (murmur) across a damaged heart valve (endocarditis).
    6. If the sac that covers the heart is inflamed (pericarditis) there may be chest pain with each breath (pleuritic chest pain), shortness of breath, and a characteristic friction rub may be heard (with a stethoscope) over the chest.
  • Tests:
    1. Throat (swabbed sample of the throat) cultures may reveal the bacteria early in the disease.
    2. Blood tests -- C-reactive protein and ESR indicate ongoing inflammation.  ASO (antistreptolysin O) and DNase indicate infection with group A streptococcus.
    3. Anemias (low red blood cell count) may be present.
    4. Electrocardiogram -- measures the electrical activity of the heart -- may show changes indicating damage to the electrical pathways inside the heart (prolonged P-R interval).
    5. Echocardiography -- using sound waves may show fluid around the heart and show the diseased valves.

  • Children between ages of 5 -15
  • Crowded places like schools, work
  • Untreated strepthroat
  • Rheumatic Fever

  • Bed rest
  • Penicillin is the antibiotic of choice and is given to all patients except those with allergy to penicillin, who receive alternative drugs.
  • NSAIDs (such as aspirin) may reduce inflammation of the joints and relieve pain and fever.
  • Irregular heart rhythms can be corrected with medications.
  • Steroids, such as Prednisone, are used if there is a severe form of carditis (heart inflammation).
  • Chorea can be treated with medications such as Haldol.
  • Patients often receive penicillin (monthly injections) until adulthood or up to 5 years after an attack of RF.
  • Some experts recommend treatment with antibiotics for life, especially if there is severe valve damage.
  • The patient with a damaged heart valve may need to take antibiotics before dental and other major procedures.

  • Contact your physician as soon as you can.  If there is high fever, chorea, chest pain, fainting, or shortness of breath, contact 911.

  • Viral myocarditis
  • Kawasaki's syndrome
  • Lyme disease
  • Infectious arthritis
  • Endocarditis or murmurs from other causes





more about Adult RF


If you want your friend to read or know about this article, Click here






medical contents search

Home   |   About Us   |   Contact Us   |   Employment Ad   |   Help

Terms and Conditions under which this service is provided to you. Read our Privacy Policy.
Copyright © 2002 - 2003 eCureMe, Inc All right reserved.