Rheumatic Fever and RHD

Acute rheumatic fever (ARF)

ARF is a short illness following a group A streptococcus, or ‘Strep A’ infection. Strep A bacteria can cause infection in the throat (strep throat) and skin (skin sores, pyoderma, impetigo). For some people, the body’s immune system gets confused, and they have an autoimmune response to the infection. The result is a generalised, inflammatory illness called acute rheumatic fever.

Symptoms and signs of ARF

• Fever
• Arthritis, where one or more joints becomes red, hot, painful, swollen. Rheumatic arthritis primarily occurs in the larger joints such as the knees, ankles, wrists, and elbows.
• Sydenham chorea which presents as jerky, uncoordinated, uncontrollable movements, particularly of the hands, legs, tongue, and face.
• Carditis, or inflammation of the heart and the heart valves (which may or may not include symptoms)
• Erythema marginatum, a painless skin discolouration, usually on the trunk of the body, sometimes on the arms and legs, but almost never on the face.
• Subcutaneous nodules that present as small, round, painless lumps over the elbows, wrists, knees, ankles, and near the spine.

Want to know all about Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) and Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD)?
Click here

Please follow the links below to learn more about Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) and Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD).
Source: http://www.rhdaustralia.org.au

• Benny’s Journey
• RHD wiping out generations of Indigenous Australians
• Michael’s story
• Healthy Skin Story
• Take Heart – Official Teaser
• Boom Boom
• What is ARF?
• Nothing deadly about a sore throat
• Strong Body Strong Heart
• How can I stop Rheumatic Fever?
• Sore throat and skin sores
• ARF – Things you need to know
• Prevent Rheumatic Heart Disease
• Help heal skin sores
• Get Bicillin every 21-28 days to protect your heart