Infectious Diseases, Bacteriology and Antibiotics

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic heart disease is a complication of rheumatic fever that damages heart valves. Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that causes a sore throat. It damages connective tissue throughout the body, mainly in the heart, joints, brain, and skin. The best way to prevent rheumatic fever is to treat a sore throat with antibiotics. Treatment for this disease includes antibiotic treatment for streptococcal infections and additional medications to reduce heart inflammation and other symptoms. Aspirin is usually given in high doses until the joint inflammation subsides. After the acute illness subsides, patients must take antibiotics for years to prevent a recurrence. This is a very important treatment because recurrences of rheumatic fever increase the risk of heart valve damage.

·         Diagnosis

·         Echocardiography

·         Antibiotic Prophylaxis

·         Surgical Repair or Replacement of Damaged Heart Valves

·         Genetic Susceptibility