Rheumatic feverRheumatic fever is a rare but potentially life-threatening inflammatory disease that may develop after an untreated or poorly treated strep throat or scarlet fever, and it gets its name because its symptoms are similarity to the symptoms of rheumatism. Scarlet fever, or scarlatina, is an illness caused by strep bacteria that causes a rash covering most of the body, a strawberry-like appearance of the tongue and usually a high fever.
The main symptom of scarlet fever is a rash, starting in the chest area but then could spread through the entire body. This rash lasts for 2-7days. When its gone, the skin on the tips of the fingers and toes will peel.
The tongue may become pale but coated with red spots ('strawberry tongue'). After a few days the whole tongue may look red.
Rheumatic fever can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain, and the illness typically develops two to three weeks after a streptococcal infection. Acute rheumatic fever commonly appears in children between the ages of 5 and 15, with only 20% of first-time attacks occurring in adults. The main symptoms include fever, muscle aches, swollen and painful joints, and in some cases, a red, lattice-like rash that typically begin one to six weeks after a bout of strep throat or scarlet fever.
The most important way to prevent rheumatic fever is by getting appropriate treatment for strep throat and scarlet fever. Rheumatic fever can cause permanent damage to the heart that may result in serious harm to the heart valves and heart failure; therefore, if you have symptoms of strep throat you will need to be evaluated and treated by a health care provider. |
