Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of various tissues in the body, resulting in joint pain, the appearance of nodules in the skin, heart problems, muscle weakness and involuntary movements.
Rheumatic fever usually occurs after an episode of infection and inflammation of the throat that is not treated properly and is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes . Infection with this bacterium is more common in children and adolescents up to the age of 15, but it can happen in people of any age.
Therefore, in the case of signs and symptoms of pharyngitis and recurrent tonsillitis, it is recommended to consult the doctor so that appropriate treatment can be started to avoid the complications of infection with Streptococcus pyogenes.
Main symptoms
When infection by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes is not treated correctly with the use of antibiotics, according to the indication by the pediatrician or general practitioner, the antibodies produced in the inflammation can attack several organs of the body, such as joints, heart, skin and brain.
Thus, in addition to fever, which can reach 39ºC, the main symptoms of rheumatic fever are:
- Joint symptoms: pain and swelling of joints, such as knees, elbows, ankles and wrists, which have a migratory pattern, that is, this inflammation can alternate from one joint to another, and can last up to 3 months; Cardiac symptoms: shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain, cough, swelling in the legs and heart murmur can be caused due to inflammation of the valves and muscles of the heart; Neurological symptoms: involuntary movements of the body, such as raising arms or legs unintentionally, these neurological manifestations being known as chorea. There can also be constant mood swings, slurred speech and muscle weakness; Skin symptoms: lumps under the skin or reddish spots.
The symptoms of rheumatic fever usually appear between 2 weeks to 6 months after infection by the bacteria, and can last for several months, depending on the correct treatment and the immunity of each person. However, if the damage to the heart is very serious, the person may have sequelae in cardiac functioning. In addition, as the symptoms can happen in outbreaks, each time the cardiac consequences appear they are worse, putting the person's life at risk.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of rheumatic fever is made by the general practitioner, rheumatologist or pediatrician based on the presence of the main symptoms and physical examination of the patient and the result of some blood tests that demonstrate inflammation, such as ESR and CRP.
In addition, the presence of the antibody against the bacterium of rheumatic fever is investigated, which is detected by exams of secretions from the throat and blood, such as the ASLO exam, which is an important exam to confirm the infection by the bacterium and confirm the diagnosis. Understand how the ASLO exam is done.
How the treatment is done
Rheumatic fever is curable, and treatment is done using antibiotics, such as Benzetacil, prescribed by a pediatrician, rheumatologist or general practitioner. Symptoms of inflammation in the joints and heart can be relieved with rest and use of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and prednisone, for example.
Depending on the severity of the rheumatic fever, the doctor may indicate that the intramuscular injections of Benzetacil are carried out with an interval of 21 days, which can last up to the person's 25 years depending on the degree of cardiac involvement.
Prevention of rheumatic fever
The prevention of rheumatic fever is very important to prevent the development of this disease and its sequelae and, therefore, it is important that in the case of pharyngitis or tonsillitis by Streptococcus pyogenes, antibiotic treatment should be carried out according to the doctor's recommendation, being important do the full treatment, even if there are no more symptoms.
In the case of people who have had at least one episode of rheumatic fever symptoms, it is important to continue treatment with Benzetacil injections to prevent outbreaks from happening and there is a greater risk of complications.
