Rheumatic fever is an infection caused by group A beta haemolytic streptococci (strep pyogenes)
Diagnosis is by the revised Jones criteria, which is:
- evidence of preceding streptococcal infection
- throat culture positive for bacteria
- positive rapid antigen detection test result
- elevated antistreptolysin O titre
- scarlet fever
OR
- chorea
- 2 major criteria OR 1 major and 2 minor criteria
Major criteria:
- carditis
- polyarthritis
- chorea
- erythema marginatum
- subcutaneous nodules
Minor criteria:
- long PR
- fever
- arthralgia
- Raised ESR/CRP
Treatment:
- bed rest
- aspirin
- penicillin (or erythromycin if penicillin allergic)
- possibly surgery if severe MR
- prophylactic penicillin IM once monthly
- for 5 years if acute rheumatic fever
- OR until age 18 without proven carditis
- OR 10yrs or until aged 25 if mild MR
- OR lifelong if severe valve disease
Prognosis:
- 60% of patients develop rheumatic heart disease, most commonly of the mitral valve
- 10% recurrence of acute rheumatic fever within 5 years if no prophylaxis.