Rheumatic Fever

Definition & Etiology

• Rheumatic fever is a systemic, inflammatory disease caused by a
delayed immune response to infection by group A betahemolytic
streptococci
• Characterized by inflammation of the joints, skin, nervous system,
and heart
• If untreated → cause scarring and deformity of cardiac structures →
RHD

Risk Factor
• Environmental : crowding and poor hygiene
• Genetic : change in major histocompatibility antigens
 (only) pharyngeal infection by
group A beta-hemolytic
streptococci Specific antigenic
molecules in cell
↓ membranes
Rheumatic fever

Pathophysiology & Pathogenesis

Clinical Manifestations
• Common symptoms : fever, lymphadenopathy, arthralgia, nausea,
vomiting, epistaxis (nose bleed), abdominal pain, and tachycardia
MAJOR CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
 Carditis : mitral/aortic semilunar valve dysfuction
→ undetected murmur , pericardial inflammation
→ chest pain, pericardial effusion → audible
friction rub, stenosis and regurgitation
 Polyarthritis
 Chorea : disorder of the CNS characterized by
sudden, aimless, irregular, involuntary movements
 Erythema Marginatum : distinctive truncal rash
(nonpruritic, pink, erythematous macules that
never occur on the face or hands)