Acute Rheumatic Fever | Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Tests

What is a Definition of Rheumatic Fever

Acute rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disease that results from the autoimmune reaction with Group A streptococcus causes inflammation of your tissues and organs that affect your child's joints, heart and blood vessels 

What Are the Symptoms and Causes Associated With Rheumatic Fever?

Rheumatic fever causes many symptoms that look similar to other health issues. Most of these other conditions are routine and not dangerous. Symptoms can vary widely depending on what part of your child’s body the condition affects.

One common symptom of rheumatic fever is a rash. The rash may be flat and red with irregular edges. 

Common Symptoms of Rheumatic Fever

• Swollen, tender and red joints (arthritis) ankles and elbows 
• Jerky movements your child can’t control in their hands, (chorea).
• Small nodules under your child’s skin.
• Chest pain or abnormal heartbeat.
• Feeling overly tired all the time (fatigue).
• Fever.
• Unexplained or ongoing headaches,
• Muscle aches.
• Swollen, red tonsils.

Causes of Rheumatic Fever

Rheumatic fever is caused due to an autoimmune reaction when our immune starts destroying our tissue. An untreated strep throat or scarlet fever infection can trigger this overreaction. It happens when your child doesn’t receive antibiotic treatment for group A Streptococcus infections.

Who is Affected by Rheumatic Fever?

Anyone can get rheumatic fever but it usually affects people of age 5-15 years It usually develops two to three weeks after an untreated strep throat or scarlet fever infection

What is the Effect of Rheumatic Fever on the Heart?

Rheumatic fever does not always affect the heart but it can damage the heart tissues it becomes chronic, the heart tissue can become scarred and non-functional which may lead to permanent heart damage

Can Rheumatic Fever Cause Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatic fever has similar symptoms to Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) but Rheumatic fever usually lasts for a few weeks RA is a lifelong disorder, both diseases are different and are not correlated to each other.

Who is at Higher Risk of Rheumatic Fever?

• Location: Living in an area where it’s difficult to get medicine or medical care may also put your child at risk.
• Age: Rheumatic fever mostly affects children or teenagers between the ages of 5 and 15.
• Weak immunity: Having a debilitated immune system can increase your child’s risk. Children who frequently get strep infections are more likely to get rheumatic fever.
• Family history: A family history of rheumatic fever, can also increase the chance of others being more likely to get it.
• Crowded areas: Bacteria spread more easily in Crowd places  where groups gather and also 

Required Diagnosis & Tests for Rheumatic Fever

If your child's sore throat persists for more than a few days, contact their healthcare provider, they will check for Group A Streptococci

If found positive they’ll first swab your child’s throat to check for group A Streptococcus bacteria. They may use a rapid strep test or order a throat culture

Blood Test

• WBC Count test (Book Now)

• Erythrocyte Sedimentation rate test(ESR Test) (Book now)

• C-Reactive protein(CRP test) (Book Now)

• Blood Culture test (Book Now)

Antistreptococcal Serology

• Streptolysin O (Book Now)

• Anti Dnase B Titers (Book Now)

Other Diagnosis Test

• Copper Ceruloplasmin test (Book Now)

• Antinuclear antibody test (Book Now)

• Autoimmune Marker test (Book Now)

• Arthritis Panel Test (Book Now)

Radiology Test

• Electrocardiogram (Book Now)
• Chest X-ray (Book Now)
• Echocardiogram (Book Now)

What is the Cost of a Rheumatology Test Package in Delhi?

The cost of a Rheumatology Test Package typically ranges from Rs.18000-28000 but you can choose Ganesh Diagnostic in delhi which provides this Package at a 50% discount So get assistance and treatment from a team of well-experienced doctors at our Diagnostic centre,