What organ can rheumatic fever cause permanent damage to?

What organ can rheumatic fever cause permanent damage to?

Rheumatic fever can cause permanent damage to the heart, including damaged heart valves and heart failure. Treatments can reduce damage from inflammation, lessen pain and other symptoms, and prevent the recurrence of rheumatic fever.

Which organs are involved in rheumatic fever?

Acute rheumatic fever is a multisystem disease characterized by involvement of the heart, joints, central nervous system (CNS), subcutaneous tissues, and skin. Except for the heart, most of these organs are only mildly and transiently affected.

How does rheumatic fever damage the heart?

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.

Does rheumatic fever affect the liver?

The cause of liver damage in Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) patients has not been definitively characterized in patients that have not received Aspirin (ASA) and despite the fact that liver enzymes are often affected in patients with rheumatic disease, there is no established treatment protocol for ARF patients with …

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 are the symptoms of rheumatic fever in adults?

Symptoms of rheumatic fever can include:

• Fever.
• Painful, tender joints (arthritis), most commonly in the knees, ankles, elbows, and wrists.
• Symptoms of congestive heart failure, including chest pain, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat.
• Fatigue.
• Jerky, uncontrollable body movements (called “chorea”)

Who is at risk for rheumatic fever?

Although anyone can get rheumatic fever, it is more common in school-age children (5 through 15 years old). Rheumatic fever is very rare in children younger than three years old and adults. Infectious illnesses, including group A strep, tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather together.

What happens if rheumatic fever is not treated?

Serious Complications Include Long-term 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.

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.

Can rheumatic fever cause permanent damage?

Inflammation caused by rheumatic fever can last a few weeks to several months. In some cases, the inflammation causes long-term complications. Rheumatic fever can cause permanent damage to the heart (rheumatic heart disease).

What happens to the body when you have rheumatic fever?

Rheumatic fever (acute rheumatic fever) is a disease that can affect the heart, joints, brain, and skin. Rheumatic fever can develop if strep throat and scarlet fever infections are not treated properly.

How is rheumatic fever related to heart valve disease?

Rheumatic fever is a very rare complication of untreated Streptococcus pyogenes throat infection (pharyngitis) or scarlet fever infection (also called group A Streptococcus or group A strep). Before antibiotic medicines became widely used, rheumatic fever was the single biggest cause of heart valve disease.

How does an untreated strep throat cause rheumatic fever?

Inflammation in the throat from an untreated strep throat can worsen when the immune system overreacts to the infection, releasing large quantities of inflammatory chemicals. As a result, inflammation spreads to other parts of the body, usually the joints and even the heart. Here are some risk factors associated with rheumatic fever:

How is rheumatic fever a multifactorial disease?

Rheumatic fever is likely inherited in a multifactorial manner, which means it is caused by multiple genes interacting with each other and with environmental factors. The condition is thought to occur in genetically susceptible children who are infected with group A Streptococcus bacteria and live in poor social conditions. [4]

Rheumatic fever (acute rheumatic fever) is a disease that can affect the heart, joints, brain, and skin. Rheumatic fever can develop if strep throat and scarlet fever infections are not treated properly.

Which is more serious scarlet fever or rheumatic fever?

Rheumatic fever is a serious disease caused by untreated strep throat or scarlet fever. It can affect the heart, joints, nervous system, and skin. The most serious complication, rheumatic heart disease, can lead to heart inflammation and scarring of the valves. Appointments & Locations. Chat with a Heart Nurse.

How does rheumatic fever lead to valve regurgitation?

Rheumatic fever can also lead to a condition known as valve regurgitation. Essentially, this is some form of leak caused by the failure of tissue after severe swelling. In most cases this causes the blood to flow in the wrong direction through the heart and vessels.

How does rheumatic heart disease affect the heart?

What causes rheumatic heart disease? Rheumatic heart disease is caused by rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can affect many connective tissues, especially in the heart, joints, skin, or brain. The heart valves can be inflamed and become scarred over time.