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Rheumatic fever is a very rare but serious condition that causes inflammation in the heart, skin, brain, and at the joints. It most often develops following an infection with the streptococcus bacteria, better known as strep throat. If left untreated, rheumatic fever can lead to permanent heart damage and even heart failure in some children.
Rheumatic fever is a delayed, autoimmune response to strep throat. Some children may have a family history of it, carrying a gene that makes them more susceptible to developing it.
It can also be brought on if strep throat is not properly treated with a full course of antibiotics.
Symptoms of rheumatic fever vary for each child, but symptoms typically appear about 2 to 4 weeks following a strep throat infection.
Signs that your child may have developed rheumatic fever include:
While there is no single test to confirm rheumatic fever, your child’s physician may seek a combination of the following:
Treatment for rheumatic fever involves a more potent course of antibiotics often having to be administered intravenously in a hospital setting. Additional antibiotics may still need to be taken for some time afterward on a regular basis to ensure the infection is completely gone. Depending on your child’s symptoms, anti-inflammatory medications may also be prescribed to decrease any swelling in the heart, muscles, and joints.