Rheumatic Fever is disease that is caused by a group of bacteria called as Group a streptococcus. The exact conditions which lead to Rheumatic Fever are not properly known. However, the condition is generally followed a case of strep throat that was not treated properly or was untreated. Rheumatic Fever can severely damage the valves of the heart.
Streptococcal infections of the throat and of ear are commonly seen in young children. These infections are treated efficiently with the help of antibiotics. If the condition is properly treated with specific antibiotics, the infections can be clear up in about a week. Children may or may not experience complications.
Some of the streptococcal infections could be mild. Younger children may not experience any symptoms at all and therefore, many times parents do not seek any medical attention. It is often seen that when a child is suffering from the Rheumatic Fever, the medications is stopped as soon as the symptoms are over and the course of drugs is not competed properly. This is dangerous because streptococcal bacteria may still be present in child’s body. In this case, there are chances to develop complications.
Children between the ages of 5-15 are highly susceptible to have Rheumatic Fever. The rate of Rheumatic Fever has dropped dramatically throughout the world especially in the United States though many poor countries still face some cases. Poverty, overcrowding, lack of access to proper medical service can contribute to develop Rheumatic Fever in children.
The perfect causes for Rheumatic Fever in children are still to be understood. The most popular and adopted is that the condition is caused by the body’s own immune system and therefore it is considered as autoimmune disease. The immune system involves organs, tissues, chemicals, cells etc.
In this autoimmune disease, the body develops antibodies against its own cells and therefore the cells consider cells as foreign bodies and reacts very badly. It can affect any part of the body but generally the vital organ that is affected the most is heart.
In addition to the fever, there are other five main symptoms of Rheumatic Fever. The first is arthritis (an inflammation of the joints that can cause severe pain and swelling). Sometimes it produces the hot, swollen, red and very painful joints of the ankles, knees, elbows etc. The joints are so painful that sometimes even a gentle touch can also create great pain.
The second symptoms of Rheumatic Fever are chorea (a disease of nervous system). It also produces the irritation into the child and many times children become peevish without any reason. Thirdly rash can also develop in the children suffering from the Rheumatic Fever and the last two being bumps and nodules which occur beneath the skin.
The diagnosis of Rheumatic Fever may be difficult as the children may have one, two or more than five symptoms those are listed above. These five symptoms namely; arthritis, chorea, carditis, erythema and subcutaneous nodules along with fever may not bring the picture of Rheumatic Fever in children. Although some blood tests, serum tests, certain X-Ray tests and presence of rheumatic factor can confirm the condition. An ECG can tell you about the present condition of the heart.
Rheumatic Fever can be prevented well with early precautions and proper diagnoses. The antibiotics are preferred worldwide and the course could be for 10 days. Light diet is taken and other symptoms are treated symptomatically such as fever is treated with anti-pyretic drugs and so on. In case of severe cardiac problem, it needs immediate medical treatment and may be fatal.
Ayurveda considers this situation as ‘Aamvata Jwar’ and it is believed to be caused by the body toxins developed by bad food and indigestion. This may also affect the ‘hridaya’ – the heart and may cause searious problem. The condition can be treated with various ‘panchakarma’ technique.
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