Per CDC
Rheumatic fever is a condition that can inflame or make the heart, joints, brain, and skin swell. It's thought to be an immune response to an earlier bacterial infection.
As the body's defense system, the immune system is important in fighting off infections. But when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy parts of the body, it causes inflammation (swelling).
Rheumatic fever can develop after infections caused by group A Streptococcus (group A strep bacteria), specifically:
Symptoms
Rheumatic fever can develop about 1 to 5 weeks after a group A strep infection.
Symptoms can include:
Arthritis (painful, tender joints)
Chorea (jerky, uncontrollable body movements)
Fatigue (tiredness)
Fever
Arthritis is most common in the knees, ankles, elbows, and wrists.
Rarely, symptoms can include:
Nodules (painless lumps) near joints
Rash with pink rings and a clear center
Heart-related symptoms
Symptoms of rheumatic fever can also include symptoms of congestive heart failure:
Chest pain
Fast heartbeat
Shortness of breath
In addition, someone with rheumatic fever can have:
A new heart murmur
An enlarged heart
Fluid around the heart
Complications
If rheumatic fever is not treated promptly, 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.
Risk factors
Anyone can get rheumatic fever after having strep throat, scarlet fever, or impetigo. Some factors can increase the risk of getting it.
Age
Rheumatic fever is more common in children than adults.
Most common: School-age children (5 through 15 years old)
Rare: Children younger than 3 years old and adults
Group settings
Crowded conditions can increase the risk of getting strep throat, scarlet fever, or impetigo. Thus, these settings can increase the risk for rheumatic fever if those infections are not treated properly. These settings include:
Daycare centers and schools
Detention or correctional facilities
Homeless shelters
Military training facilities
Other health factors
Someone who had rheumatic fever is more likely to get it again if they get another group A strep infection.
To learn more visit: About Rheumatic Fever | Group A Strep | CDC
