Table of Contents

Know more about Rheumatic Heart disease

Overview

Rheumatic heart disease occurs when heart valves are damaged due to rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disease which causes inflammatory reactions to strep throat. If left untreated, it can lead to diseases like arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation and heart failure. This disease is commonly found in people who are below the age of 25.

Causes

Rheumatic heart disease is caused by Rheumatic fever. A streptococcus bacteria is responsible for this. Rheumatic fever takes about five weeks to develop. The immune system’s response to scarlet fever also leads to rheumatic fever. The immune system attacks healthy tissue, specifically the central nervous system, heart, skin and joints. This reaction causes inflammation in these tissues. The risk of rheumatic fever is increased if:

The candidate has a history of rheumatic fever in the family
You are of the age 5-15
One has a weak immune system, especially children
You live in an area which has poor medical infrastructure and supplies
You are constantly in crowded areas

Symptoms

The symptoms of rheumatic fever include:

High fever
Painless rashes
Severely swollen joints
Severe chest pain
Fatigue
Severe pain in the joints
Pain that migrates from one joint to another
Uncontrollable jerks in the face, feet and hands
Unusual outbursts of crying, laughing etc
Tiny painless bumps underneath the skin

Diagnosis

Several tests may be conducted to diagnose rheumatic heart diseases. Some of them are:

Electrocardiogram: This test is conducted to analyze the heart’s electrical activity. It helps to detect any heart muscle damage and shows irregular murmurs.
Chest X-Ray: An X-ray would be performed to check for enlarged lungs and heart.
Echocardiogram: This test uses sound waves to analyze the heart’s valves and chambers.
Blood tests: Blood tests may be conducted to detect infections and inflammations
Cardiac MRI: This test provides a clear picture of your heart. It provides precise pictures of your heart muscles and heart valves.
Physical examination doctors may conduct specific physical tests and also study your family’s medical history for accurate diagnosis.