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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffInflammation caused by rheumatic fever may last for a few weeks to several months. In some cases, the inflammation may cause long-term complications.
Rheumatic heart disease is permanent damage to the heart caused by the inflammation of rheumatic fever. Problems are most common with the valve between the two left chambers of the heart (mitral valve), but the other valves may be affected. The damage may result in one of the following conditions:
- Valve stenosis is a narrowing of the valve resulting in decreased blood flow.
- Valve regurgitation is a leak that allows blood to flow in the wrong direction.
- Damage to heart muscle from inflammation can weaken the heart muscle, resulting in poor pumping function.
Damage to the mitral valve, other heart valves or other heart tissues can cause problems with the heart later in life. Resulting conditions may include:
- Atrial fibrillation, an irregular and chaotic beating of the upper chambers of the heart (atria)
- Heart failure, an inability of the heart to pump enough blood to the body
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- Strep throat: Symptoms. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/strepThroat/symptoms.htm. Accessed Dec. 15, 2008.
- Parenting corner Q&A: Sore throat. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK0_SoreThroat.htm. Accessed Dec. 15, 2008.
- When your infant or child has a fever. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/common/common/069.html. Accessed Dec. 15, 2008.
- Gerber M. Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A streptococcus). In: Long S, et al., eds. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/113823919-10/783584111/1679/122.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06687-0..50121-1--cesec21_2521. Accessed Dec. 15, 2008.
- Weinberg G. Rheumatic fever. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Home Edition for Patients and Caregivers. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec23/ch272/ch272h.html. Accessed Dec. 3, 2008.
- Gibofsky A, et al. Treatment and prevention of acute rheumatic fever. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 4, 2008.
