infection⚑ High burden in India

Rheumatic heart disease

Rheumatic fever (RF) is an disease that can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain. The disease typically develops two to four weeks after a streptococcal throat . Signs and symptoms include fever, multiple painful joints, involuntary muscle movements, and occasionally a characteristic non-itchy rash known as marginatum. The heart is involved in about half of cases. Damage to the heart valves, known as rheumatic heart disease (RHD), usually occurs after repeated attacks but can sometimes occur after one. The damaged valves may result in heart failure, fibrillation and infection of the valves.

Underlined words are explained — tap any of them.

Symptoms — what it feels like

·Fever, multiple painful joints, involuntary muscle movements, marginatum

Causes — why it happens

· disease triggered by strains of Streptococcus

How it's found

·Based on symptoms and history

Prevention

·Prompt for Streptococcus , improved sanitation

Treatment

·Prolonged periods of , valve replacement , valve repair

Complications

·Rheumatic heart disease, heart failure, fibrillation, of the valves

More in Heart

Coronary artery disease Heart failure Arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation)Cardiomyopathy Heart valve disease Congenital heart defect Heart attack Cardiac arrest Myocarditis Aortic stenosis Long QT syndrome Infective endocarditis

See all of Heart →

Plain-language summary adapted from Wikipedia. Not medical advice.