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Rheumatic fever most often develops as a result of bacterial infections with group A streptococci – angina and scarlet fever. It has acute relapses lasting about 4-6 weeks. They can be separated from each other by even several years of latency.
Rheumatic fever – symptoms
Rheumatic fever manifests itself in joint discomfort, and when it seems to subside, the disease process continues in the heart muscle. Cellular infiltrates (Aschoff’s nodules) form there, which die and scar. Inflammatory changes in the affected joint last for a few or even several days, and then they move to another joint. However, the joints are never damaged, so their x-ray image may be normal. This feature distinguishes rheumatic fever from rheumatoid arthritis. The first symptoms of the disease appear at an early age. The criteria for the diagnosis of the disease are the so-called Jones criteria, which we divide into “large” and “small”.
Large criteria:
- traveling arthritis (joint pain),
- inflammation of the heart
- subcutaneous nodules,
- annular erythema (marginal),
- Sydenham’s chorea (St. Vitus dance) – occurs in children; they develop chorea (resembling restlessness or dancing), emotional disorders, compulsive behavior, and hyperactivity.
Small criteria:
- fever,
- arthralgia,
- increased ESR,
- leukocytosis (high level of leukocytes),
- preceding streptococcal infection (e.g. angina)
- a relapse of rheumatic disease,
- increase in ASO titer above 200 units; ASO, i.e. antistreptolysin test, is a test that confirms the presence of antibodies in the human body against the extracellular antigen of group A streptococcus, i.e. streptolysin O,
- the presence of acute phase proteins (e.g., increased levels of CRP protein).
Diagnosis requires the simultaneous fulfillment of two criteria for “large” or one “large” and two “small”. You can do a blood test. Rheumatological prophylaxis, which you can buy at Medonet Market.
Treatment of rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is treated with penicillin, symptoms can be alleviated by giving up physical activity. Preparations from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also used. Corticosteroids are administered in severe relapses.
Herbs can help in the treatment of rheumatic diseases. in Lumbago – EKO anti-rheumatic tea or For rheumatism and joint diseases – herbal mixture available at an attractive price on Medonet Market.