Table of Contents
What age group is most affected by rheumatic fever?
Children Most Often Affected Although anyone can get rheumatic fever, it is more common in school-age children (5 through 15 years old). Rheumatic fever is very rare in children younger than three years old and adults.
Who is mainly affected by rheumatic fever?
Rheumatic fever is a serious but preventable illness. It mainly affects Māori and Pacific children and young people (aged 4 to 19 years), especially if they have other family members who have had rheumatic fever.
Why are children more susceptible to rheumatic fever?
They are most at risk if they: Have strep throat infections often. Have strep infections that were not treated or not treated enough. Have a family history of rheumatic fever.
Can rheumatic fever cause problems later in life?
Inflammation caused by rheumatic fever can last a few weeks to several months. In some cases, the inflammation causes long-term complications. Rheumatic fever can cause permanent damage to the heart (rheumatic heart disease).
Can rheumatic fever go undiagnosed?
Rheumatic fever explained Acute rheumatic fever can be undiagnosed and this can cause failure to prevent or recognise rheumatic heart disease. Failure to recognise ARF and limited access to healthcare can contribute to the under-diagnosis of ARF.
Can strep trigger autoimmune disease?
Rheumatic fever is a complex disease that affects the joints, skin, heart, blood vessels, and brain. It occurs mainly in children between the ages of 5 to 15. It is an autoimmune disease that may occur after an infection with strep (streptococcus) bacteria.
How old do you have to be to have rheumatic fever?
In addition, someone with rheumatic fever can have: Although anyone can get rheumatic fever, it is more common in school-age children (5 through 15 years old). Rheumatic fever is very rare in children younger than three years old and adults.
Why do some people get rheumatic fever but not others?
[1] [2] [3] It is not clear why some people who are infected with group A Streptococcus bacteria go on to develop rheumatic fever, while others do not; however, it appears that some families may have a genetic susceptibility to develop the condition. [4] [5] Treatment usually includes antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatory medications.
How long does it take for rheumatic fever to develop?
How You Get Rheumatic Fever. Bacteria called group A Streptococcus or group A strep cause strep throat and scarlet fever. It usually takes about 1 to 5 weeks after strep throat or scarlet fever for rheumatic fever to develop. Rheumatic fever is thought to be caused by a response of the body’s defense system — the immune system.
What kind of disease is rheumatic fever ( RF )?
Rheumatic fever (RF) is a multisystem, immunologically mediated inflammatory disease, that occurs as a delayed sequel to group A streptococcal (GAS) infection. Its subsequent complication, chronic rheumatic heart disease (RHD), remains a major public health problem in developing countries.