Acute rheumatic fever (joint rheumatism), commonly called "beta", occurs after inflammation of the throat caused by group A beta hemolytic streptococcus bacteria, affecting the joints, heart, brain, skin and subcutaneous tissues. It is a disease that causes tissue damage. While most beta-related throat infections improve with treatment, a small number of them may develop acute rheumatic fever 2 - 4 weeks after the onset of inflammation. It is not clear which patient with beta inflammation will develop acute rheumatic fever.
The importance of acute rheumatic fever
Acute rheumatic fever rarely occurs in adults and under 4 years of age. Although it also occurs in children, it most commonly affects children between the ages of 5 and 15. The most common symptom noticed by the family is joint inflammation (arthritis), which manifests itself as joint swelling and severe joint pain. This symptom goes away on its own, but the organs that acute rheumatic fever permanently damages are the heart and heart valves. Inflammation of heart tissues and valves due to this disease is called cardiac rheumatism (rheumatic carditis). These patients may complain of chest pain, palpitations or shortness of breath, or a heart murmur may be heard during a doctor's examination, but it should not be forgotten that a significant portion of patients may not have any complaints. Damage due to rheumatism may disappear over time or may be permanent. When it causes permanent heart damage, it is called rheumatic heart disease. Rheumatic heart disease is the most important cause of non-congenital (acquired) heart diseases in developing countries like our country.
Prevention of acute rheumatic fever
First of all, group A beta hemolytic Throat inflammation caused by streptococcal bacteria (beta) should be well known. Common symptoms of this disease are sudden onset, severe sore throat, especially when swallowing, and high fever. Flu symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing or coughing usually do not occur. To make sure that the child's throat inflammation is due to beta, the patient with high fever and sore throat should definitely be examined by the pediatrician and, upon his recommendation, tests for beta, such as throat culture, should be performed. End If the diagnosis of beta-induced strep throat is confirmed and treated appropriately, the patient will most likely be protected from acute rheumatic fever. Acute rheumatic fever, heart rheumatism or rheumatic heart disease are not contagious. However, it should not be forgotten that beta-related throat inflammation, which occurs before acute rheumatic fever, is contagious through the respiratory tract. This bacterium can rapidly infect people, especially those in closed and airless environments such as schools, nurseries, public transportation vehicles.
Acute rheumatic fever treatment
Patient's Child Heart Diseases (Pediatric Cardiology) When diagnosed by a specialist, antibiotic treatment such as penicillin should be given to eliminate beta bacteria. In addition, various medications are preferred to suppress the inflammatory condition in the patient, depending on the severity of this condition. Bed rest should be taken for periods deemed appropriate depending on the severity of the disease. An attack of acute rheumatic fever usually resolves within a few weeks to a few months, but damage to the heart can last a lifetime. The importance of protecting against recurrent attacks of this disease stems from this permanent heart damage.
Does acute rheumatic fever recur?
Beta-related throat infections that the child with acute rheumatic fever will later experience The likelihood of developing acute rheumatic fever increases. Therefore, these children should be given long-term preventive antibiotic treatment such as penicillin. Protective antibiotics prevent the development of beta-related throat inflammation and eliminate the risk of recurrence of acute rheumatic fever.
What should rheumatic heart patients pay attention to?
As with some other heart diseases, rheumatic heart disease People with this condition also have an increased risk of developing inflammation in damaged heart valves. These developing inflammations are called "bacterial endocarditis" or "infective endocarditis". To prevent these inflammations, teeth must be kept clean and tooth decay must be treated. In addition, rheumatic heart patients should be given a preventive antibiotic treatment other than penicillin before the procedure to prevent bacterial contamination of the blood before dental treatments and surgeries that may cause bleeding.
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