Rheumatic Fever Symptoms In Children and Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic fever is an inflammation of the joints (arthritis) and heart (carditis), and more common in children aged 5-15 years. Rheumatic fever in children is caused due to streptococcal infection in the throat. And an inflammatory reaction to infection, which attacks various parts of the body such as; joints, heart and skin.

These symptoms will increase in children with poor nutritional status and living in cramped and dirty house. Comparison of the occurrence of rheumatic fever in mild streptococcal infection untreated is about 1 in 1,000, but in more severe infections would increase to 3 compared to 100.


Rheumatic Fever Symptoms In Children

The symptoms of this infection varies, depending on which body part becomes inflamed. And usually occurs a few weeks after streptococcal sore throat due to disappear. For the main symptoms of rheumatic fever in children is happening:

• Joint pain (arthritis).
• Chest pain or palpitations (heart palpitations) because carditis.
• Twitch outside of consciousness (Sydenham's chorea).
• Skin rash (erythema marginatum).
• Small bumps under the skin (nodules).

The initial symptoms are most often found in patients with rheumatic fever are joint pain and fever. One or several joints suddenly become painful either touched or not. The joints will also appear red, feels warm when touched and may even contain liquids swell.

Rheumatic fever is common in, elbows, wrists, knees and ankles. Not infrequently arthritis also attacks the shoulder and hip joints. If the pain in a joint disappear, then there will be another pain in the joints, especially in children who are active and have not received anti-inflammatory drugs. Besides arthritis, fever will arise suddenly and simultaneously and are fluctuated. Arthritis and fever usually lasts for two weeks and rarely more than 1 month


Rheumatic Heart Disease (Carditis)

Inflammation of the heart often occur together with joint pain and fever in patients with rheumatic fever. In the beginning, did not cause symptoms of heart inflammation. But over time will cause pain in the chest. The worst effect is happening heart failure, with symptoms; Shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and a dry cough.

Carditis symptoms will usually disappear gradually, within 5 months. However, in the event of severe damage to the heart valve rheumatic heart disease will occur permanently.
In mild cases, children who suffer from rheumatic heart seem stiff and will have difficulty in dressing and eating. Meanwhile, if the infection is too severe, patients often do things that can hurt themselves (banging arms or legs alone).
After other symptoms disappear, rash flat with wavy edges and not accompanied by pain. The rash usually occurs in less than 24 hours. Sometimes children also experience severe abdominal pain, and decreased appetite.


Diagnosis of Rheumatic Fever

Early diagnosis by the doctor will refer by early symptoms caused. On physical examination with the help of a stethoscope usually will hear extra heart sounds. After the examination will be done with a blood test, which includes; White blood cell count increases, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and antibodies against streptococci.