Our Rheumatic fever Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Rheumatic fever

Definition of Rheumatic fever

1. Strep or Sore Throat Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the MRSA Quiz!
3. Infectious Mononucleosis Slideshow Pictures

Rheumatic fever: An illness that occurs following a streptococcus infection (such as a "strep throat") or scarlet fever and predominantly affects children. Symptoms include fever, pain in the joints, nausea, stomach cramps, and vomiting. Rheumatic fever can cause long-lasting effects in the skin, joints, heart, and brain.

Rheumatic fever may be followed by Sydenham's chorea and by symptoms characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder or a tic disorder.

The diagnosis of rheumatic fever is made by history and observation. A blood marker has recently been found for rheumatic fever, but a test is not yet commercially available.

Treatment is usually by prophylactic antibiotics, as recurrence is common and can cause further damage to body tissues.

Need help identifying pills and medications?
Use the pill finder tool on RxList.