Rheumatic fever is a complication linked with strep throat. It is considered as a serious condition that can cause stroke, lasting damage to the heart and even death if not treated.
The condition typically manifests among children between 5-15 years old, but older children and even adults can contract it as well.
What are the causes?
Rheumatic fever is triggered by group A streptococcus. This bacterium is responsible for triggering strep throat or even scarlet fever in a small percentage of individuals.
It is important to note that rheumatic fever causes the body to strike its own tissues after it has been infected by bacteria responsible for causing strep throat. This reaction results to widespread inflammation which is the basis for all the symptoms of rheumatic fever.
Indications of rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is triggered by a reaction to the bacteria responsible for causing strep throat. Even though not all cases of strep throat lead to rheumatic fever, this is a serious complication that can be prevented with proper diagnosis and treatment of strep throat.
In case a child has any of the following symptoms, a strep test must be carried out:
- Sore throat
- Red rash
- Sore throat with swollen and tender lymph nodes
- Difficulty swallowing
- Nausea and/or vomiting
Sore throat with swollen and tender lymph nodes. - Headache
- Thick, blood-streaked discharge from the nose
- Small, red-colored spots on the roof of the mouth
- Temperature of 101 degrees F or higher
- Tonsils are swollen and red
- Tonsils with white patches or pus
There are various symptoms linked with rheumatic fever. An individual with the condition might suffer from a few or some or most of the following. They can manifest 2-4 weeks after a child has been diagnosed with strep throat.
Management
The treatment usually involves the elimination of all the remaining group A strep bacteria and dealing with the symptoms. The commonly used treatment measures include the following:
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are prescribed as a long-term treatment to prevent recurrence. Take note that this treatment can last for up to 5 years.
Anti-inflammatory treatment
The anti-inflammatory treatments usually involve pain medications that are anti-inflammatory in action such as naproxen or aspirin. The doctor will also prescribe a corticosteroid to minimize the inflammation.
Anticonvulsant medication
The doctor might give an anticonvulsant if the involuntary actions become too powerful.
Bed rest
The doctor might suggest bed rest and limit physical actions until the main symptoms such as pain and inflammation have improved. It is best to take a few weeks up to months of rest if the fever caused the heart issues.