Rheumatic Heart Disease in a Nutshell

Rheumatic heart disease is a side effect of rheumatic fever. Children between the ages of five and fifteen are at the greatest risk for contacting rheumatic fever, though anyone can contact the disease. If the patient acquires rheumatic heart disease, the effects can last their entire life.

While the precise cause of rheumatic fever isn't clear, it has been linked, in many cases, to streptococcal bacteria (Strep Throat). The main symptoms include Sore throat, Red and swollen tonsils, fever, headaches, muscle aches, swollen joints, chest pain, fatigue and shortness of breath.

Rheumatic heart disease occurs when the heart is damaged during a bout with rheumatic fever, and is characterized by a heart valve that either does not fully open or does not fully close. While this in itself is not too worrisome, it can directly lead to congestive heart failure, where the heart becomes enlarged and can no longer pump away all of its blood. The best way to prevent rheumatic heart disease is to prevent rheumatic fever, and the best way to do that, near as modern medicine can tell, is to nip the Strep Throat disease in the bud by immediately seeking antibiotic treatment when it is contacted. If you've already had rheumatic fever, your heart might have already been damaged. Preventative steps are no longer an option, however, you can help the condition from turning into something worse by consulting a doctor about a continuous treatment plan (generally involving antibiotics) that can help prevent heart disease and heart attacks.

Also, anyone effected by rheumatic heart disease needs to make future surgeons and dentists aware of their condition, as they are at risk for contacting severe infections through the bloodstream. Surgeons and dentists can administer an addition high potency antibiotic before procedures to help prevent this.