## What Are the Signs of Rheumatic Fever?
Rheumatic fever is a serious illness that can develop after a throat infection caused by certain bacteria, especially group A Streptococcus. It mostly affects children and young people, but it can happen in adults too. The disease doesn’t just make you feel sick for a few days—it can cause lasting problems, especially for your heart. That’s why knowing the signs early is so important.
### How Does Rheumatic Fever Start?
Rheumatic fever usually shows up about two to five weeks after someone has had a sore throat or skin infection that wasn’t treated properly with antibiotics. Not everyone who gets strep throat will get rheumatic fever, but when it does happen, it’s because the body’s immune system gets confused and starts attacking its own tissues—especially the heart, joints, skin, and sometimes even the brain.
### Common Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of rheumatic fever can be different from person to person. Some people have mild symptoms; others get very sick. Here are some of the most common things to watch out for:
– **Fever:** A high temperature is often one of the first signs.
– **Joint Pain and Swelling:** This usually affects several joints at once—often knees, ankles, elbows, or wrists. The pain might move from one joint to another (this is called “migratory arthritis”).
– **Chest Pain or Discomfort:** Some people feel pain in their chest or have trouble breathing.
– **Fatigue:** Feeling very tired or weak is common.
– **Skin Rash:** Sometimes there’s a pink rash with ring-shaped patches that don’t itch (called erythema marginatum).
– **Small Lumps Under the Skin:** These are firm bumps under the skin over bony areas like elbows or knees (called subcutaneous nodules).
– **Uncontrolled Movements:** In rare cases, kids might have jerky movements they can’t control (this is called Sydenham chorea).
### Heart Problems: The Most Serious Sign
The biggest worry with rheumatic fever is what it does to your heart. When rheumatic fever attacks your heart (called carditis), it can cause swelling and damage to your heart valves—the parts of your heart that keep blood flowing in the right direction.
Signs that rheumatic fever has affected your heart include:
– **Shortness of Breath**
– **Palpitations** (feeling like your heart is beating fast or irregularly)
– **Chest Tightness**
– **Heart Murmurs** (unusual sounds heard by doctors when listening to your heartbeat)
If these symptoms show up after a recent sore throat—especially in children—it’s really important to see a doctor right away.
### Other Possible Symptoms
Sometimes kids with rheumatic fever also have stomach pain or headaches. They might look pale and not want to eat much.
### Why Early Detection Matters
If you catch rheumatic fever early enough and treat it quickly with medicines like antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, you may be able stop further damage—especially damage to your heart valves which could lead something called “rheumatism of the heart” later on if left untreated.
But if you ignore these warning signs? Over time those damaged valves may not work well anymore leading potentially life-long problems such as needing surgery down road just so someone could live normal life without constant fatigue breathlessness etcetera due their weakened hearts unable pump efficiently anymore because scar tissue built up inside them during initial attack years ago!
So please pay attention whenever child complains about joint pains following recent bout sore throats especially accompanied by any other symptom mentioned above since prompt medical care makes huge difference between full recovery versus lifelong disability caused this preventable disease!
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## Who Is Most at Risk?
Children between 5–15 years old are most likely get this illness but anyone who hasn’t had proper treatment for strep infections could theoretically develop condition regardless age group although rare adults do
