Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
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. This condition is a narrowing of the valve, which results in decreased blood flow.
- Valve regurgitation. This condition is a leak in the valve, which allows blood to flow in the wrong direction.
- Damage to heart muscle. The inflammation associated with rheumatic fever 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
References
- Fort GG. Rheumatic fever. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00027-5--sc0105&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00027-5--sc0105&uniqId=224600605-3. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
- Rheumatic fever. In: Marx JA, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1075999583&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00081-5--s0050&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00081-5--s0050&uniqId=224600605-4. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
- Rheumatic fever. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec19/ch281/ch281a.html. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
- Choby B. Diagnosis and treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis. American Family Physician. 2009;79:383.
- Gibofsky A, et al. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of acute rheumatic fever. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
- Gibofsky A, et al. Treatment and prevention of rheumatic fever. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
- Report for the second meeting of World Health Organization's subcommittee of the Expert Committee of the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines: Antibiotic use for the prevention and treatment of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in children. Geneva, Switzerland: Royal Hobart Hospital and University of Tasmania. http://www.who.int/selection_medicines/committees/subcommittee/2/RheumaticFever_review.pdf. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010. Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 3, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on