Rheumatic Fever Symptoms Cause Treatment
Rheumatic fever is inflammattory disorder caused by streptococcus pyogen bacteria causing throat swelling, redness and pain. It occurs rarely. If left untreated it can result spread of bacteria to other part especially heart. It can complicated into rheumatoid endocarditis.
Rheumatic fever is characterized by fever, skin rashes, involuntary muscle movement, painful joints and erythema over body. The severe rheumatic infection develop immune response causing immune cells to act on body cell. This phenomenon is known as autoimmune reaction. Common causes of rheumatic fever are poverty, malnutrition, metabolic disease, and bad sanitation.
What causes Rheumatic fever?
Rheumatic fever is caused by streptoccal bacterial infection. It enter via air or mount develop in the throat area. It take week to show symptoms. It is characterized by swelling, irritation, redness at throat area. Most common areas of infection are overcrowded placec, unhygienic food, malnutriton and poverty.
An untreated rheumatic fever result in further spread of bacteria result in into inflammation of heart muscle & joint inflammation.
- Streptococcal infection
Bacterial infection occurs in the body via food, air from unhygienic etc. Long term exposure of bacteria result in forming an autoimmune reaction resulting in an autoimmune disorder. In this, body own cell get attacked by immune cells.
Rheumatic fever risk factor,
- Chronic bacterial infection
- Overcrowding area
People living in overcrowded area have more chances of getting infection.
- Poor sanitation
Poor sanitation such as bathing, living standards, atmosphere can lead to expose yourself to the infection.
- Un-hygienic area
Improper hygiene increases the chances of infection.
- Iatrogenic effect
The iatrogenic effect is term as inflammation occurs due to long term medication side effects.
Rheumatic Fever Symptoms
Rheumatic fever is differentiated into minor and major symptoms.
- Fever
Fever occurs due to increased inflammation and metabolic activites in the body. Bacterias and immune system increase activity lead to increase body temperature.
- Throat swelling
Streptococcus bacteria causes inflammation of the throat area resulting in swelling, redness and painful lymph nodes at throat area. It is seen when inflammation is occur.
- Troubling in swallowing
Infection in the throat make a person uneasy or difficult to swallow food.
- Skin rashes
Skin rashes start to appear after infection is start spreading. The bacteria continuously causes inflammation of the body tissues and cells which result in erythema, redness and skin rashes.
- Joint pain
It occurs when bacteria causes inflammation of the joint.
- Chest pain
- Swelling over lymph node
- Inflammation of wrist, elbow and knee
- Endocarditis
Endocarditis is define as inflammation of endocardium (middle layer of heart muscle). It occurs when heart muscle get infected by bacteria causing inflammation of heart muscles.
- Swollen joints
Person experienced swelling in joints, getting hard to excercise or in movements.
- Fatigue
- Severe joint pain
- Weak cognitive functions
Other signs are,
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Rapid heart rate
- Decreased ability to exercise
- Uncontrollable twitching and movements
- Arthritis
- Palpitation
- Shortness of breath
- Loose cognitive function
- Abdominal pain
- Nodules under the skin
Diagnosis
Rheumatic fever is diagnosed by presence of symptoms. Common signs used in diagnosis are fever, skin rashes, swelling, painful swollen nodules, swallowing difficulty, jery irregular movements and fatigue.
Rheumatic fever is diagnosed by,- Sputum culture
Sputum culture is a medical procedure in which sputum is investigated of presence of infection and bacteria.
- Complete Blood Count test
Complete blood count is done to investigate normal blood count. During rheumatic fever, WBC count is low with RBC and platelet count changes. It also reveal the presence of infection in the blood. It is used to diagnose infection.
- Electrocardiogram
Electrocardiogram (ECG) is done to check the functioning of heart by checking conduction system of heart. It involves checking of how well your heart is functioning. It is done in severe rheumatic fever.
Treatment
Rheumatic fever is treated by medicine therapy such as antibiotic therapy, anticonvulsant, antipyretic, antiinflammatory drugs.
- Antibiotic therapy
It involve giving drugs that decreases the infection and microorganism activity in the body. It resist growth and multiplication of bacteria.
- Anti-pyretic
Anti-pyretic drugs are used in fever. It decrease and maintain normal temperature of the body.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
Anti-inflammatory drugs decrease inflammation resulting in decrease swelling, skin rashes and redness over the body.
- Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are given to decreases immune response, swelling, inflammation. It is helpful in increasing the growth of body cells and tissues.
Surgical Management
Surgical treatment is needed when bacteria spread to other body parts such as heart, joint and lungs.
- Valve replacement surgery or valve repair surgery :- It is done to repair or replace the heart valve in rheumatic heart diseases.
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