Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic heart disease is cardiac inflammation and scarring triggered by an autoimmune reaction to infection with group A streptococci
Symptoms
1. Fever
2. Blotchy red skin rash
3. Chest,Abdominal,Joint pain
4. Small nodules under the skin
5. Changes in personality (moodiness, unusual laughing/crying)
6. Shortened attention span and Irritability
7. Shortness of breath
8. Excessive sweating
Cause
1. Inflammatory reaction to certain group A streptococcus bacteria
Management
1. Monitor sore throat
2. Seek medical advice
Diagnostics
1. Jonas Criteria
  1. Major
    1. Carditis
    2. Polyarthritis
    3. Chorea
    4. Erythema marginatum
    5. Subcutaneous nodules
  2. Minor
    1. Arthralgia
    2. Fever
    3. Elevated ESR or CRP
    4. Prolonged PR interval on an ECG
Treatment
1. Objectives
  1. To eradicate any streptococcal bacteria that may be remaining in your body with antibiotics,
  2. To help relieve symptoms with anti-inflammatory medicine
  3. To prevent long-term damage to your heart
2. Anibiotics
3. Anti-inflammatory medicine
  1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
    1. Ibuprofen
    2. Aspirin
  2. If ECG shows that you have moderate to severe inflammation of the heart
    1. Prednisolone
4. Other treatments
  1. Experiencing symptoms of chorea
    1. neuroleptic
  2. Surgery

Resource summary

	Created by Javen Jara over 10 years ago