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Rheumatic Fever Symptoms Diagnosis
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that may develop after you have suffered an infection with Streptococcus bacteria. Illnesses like strep throat and scarlet fever may lead to rheumatic fever. It has a tendency to affect the brain, joints, skin and heart.
Rheumatic fever primarily affects children aged between 6 and 15 years, and it occurs usually 20 days after an attack of scarlet fever or strep throat. It has been seen that nearly 3 percent people with untreated strep throat end up getting rheumatic fever. And, people who get rheumatic fever are more likely to have flare ups of strep infections.
Rheumatic Fever Symptoms
The following symptoms are seen when a person get affected by rheumatic fever. It is not necessary that all the symptoms will manifest themselves in one person.
- Fever
- Arthritis, mainly in the wrists, knees, elbows and ankles
- Redness and tenderness of the joints accompanied by swelling
- Skin rash
- Abdominal pain
- Uncoordinated jerky movements that affect hands, face and feet
- Skin nodules
- Heart problems
- Nosebleeds
Rheumatic Fever Diagnosis
There are no specific tests to diagnose rheumatic fever. However, a doctor conducts a careful examination to check you joints, heart, and skin if rheumatic fever is suspected. Even an electrocardiogram (ECG) may be done to test your heart. You may have to go for blood tests to check whether you have recurring strep infection.
A doctor may conclude that you have rheumatic fever if you suffer from repeated strep infection or have just recovered from a streptococcus infection.
However, major rheumatic fever diagnostic factors include heart inflammation, arthritis in many joints, skin nodules and jerky movements.
