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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffFactors that may increase the risk of rheumatic fever include:
- Family history. Some people may carry a gene or genes that make them more likely to develop rheumatic fever.
- Type of strep bacteria. Certain strains of strep bacteria are more likely to contribute to rheumatic fever than are other strains.
- Environmental factors. A greater risk of rheumatic fever is associated with overcrowding, poor sanitation, and other conditions that may easily result in the rapid transmission or multiple exposures to strep bacteria.
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.
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