Rheumatic fever is a complicated disease that can develop as a complication of untreated or poorly treated strep throat. Strep throat is caused by infection with group A streptococcus bacteria.  Most commonly, the streptococcus infection is located in the upper respiratory tract such as strep throat or asscarlet fever. Rheumatic fever affects the joints, skin, heart, blood vessels, and brain. Rheumatic fever is most common in 5- to 15-year-old children, though it can develop in younger children and adults.

Rheumatic fever is treated in following ways:

• The best treatment against rheumatic heart disease is to prevent rheumatic fever from ever occurring. Rheumatic fever is usually treated with penicillin. Doctors often prescribe a regular dose of penicillin after the symptoms of rheumatic fever disappear. This program helps prevent the return of Rheumatic fever. Read the rest of this entry →