Rheumatic heart disease is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus), which causes a sore throat and is contagious, like a cold or the flu. Strep throat is a frequent childhood illness.
The immune system's reaction to repeated strep infections can lead to inflammation and scarring of the heart valves in certain people. Rheumatic fever describes this condition. The inflammation and scarring of heart valves induced by rheumatic fever is the etiology of rheumatic heart disease.
Who is at risk of developing rheumatic fever?
Rheumatic fever is more common in young children and teenagers with an untreated case of strep. Heart damage symptoms may not appear until years after the initial infection and fever have subsided.
Signs and symptoms of rheumatic heart disease?
Rheumatic heart disease can only be identified if the patient has recently experienced strep infection or rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is characterized by a wide range of symptoms that commonly appear anywhere from 1 week to 6 weeks after a strep throat has cleared up. There is a possibility that the illness was either too mild to be diagnosed or had cleared up by the time the patient sought medical attention.
The most typical signs of rheumatic fever are:-
- Fever
- Joint discomfort, swelling, redness, and tenderness, especially in the knees and ankles.
- Nodules (lumps under the skin)
- Typically appearing across the chest, back, and abdomen, a lattice rash is red, elevated, and itchy.
- Experiencing difficulty breathing and pain in the chest
- The involuntary twitching of muscles anywhere in the body or face
- Weakness
- Problems breathing (especially with activity or when lying down)
- Pressure in the chest
- Swelling
The diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease is as follows.
Rheumatic heart disease sufferers either have or have recently recovered from a strep throat infection. A doctor may take a throat culture or draw blood to diagnose strep throat.
They can have a heart murmur or rub that shows up on a standard checkup. Blood leaks around the damaged valve, causing a buzz. The rubbing sensation develops as the inflamed cardiac tissues move or rub against one another.
Rheumatic heart disease can be diagnosed using a combination of tests, including thorough patient history and physical examination.
The heart's chambers and valves are evaluated by sonography in this procedure. When an ultrasound transducer is moved across the patient's chest, an image is formed on a screen thanks to the reflected sound waves. Valve flap damage, blood leaking via a leaky valve, fluid accumulation around the heart, and cardiac enlargement are all conditions that can see. The test is the gold standard for detecting issues with heart valves.
Electrocardiogram (ECG).
The intensity and rhythm of the heart's electrical activity are both measured by this test. It displays irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias and dysrhythmias) and can sometimes reveal cardiac muscle injury. To detect electrical activity, little sensors are attached to the skin.
Examining the chest using radiation.
The doctor may order an X-ray to check for lung and heart enlargement.
An MRI of the Heart. The heart is imaged during this procedure. This method can examine the heart's valves and muscles with greater clarity.
Diagnostics involving the blood. Specific blood tests can detect infection and inflammation.
How do doctors deal with rheumatic heart disease?
The severity of cardiac valve damage is a significant consideration in treatment. Surgery to replace or repair a severely damaged valve is an option in cases of severe treatment.
Rheumatic fever is best treated by avoiding it in the first place. Strep infections and the subsequent rheumatic fever may typically be treated with antibiotics. Inflammation can increase the risk of heart damage; anti-inflammatory medicines may be used to lessen this risk. Heart failure treatment may also involve the use of other medications.
Antibiotics are given to people who have had rheumatic fever daily or monthly, sometimes for the rest of their lives, to prevent the recurrence of infections and reduce the risk of further heart damage. Aspirin, steroids, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may treat inflammation.
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