Rheumatic fever

🌡️ What is Rheumatic Fever? Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment | Complete Guide Are you looking for a complete and easy-to-understand explanation of Rheumatic Fever? Whether you're a medical student, healthcare professional, or just curious about this serious condition, this video provides everything you need to know about Rheumatic Fever in one comprehensive guide. 👇 In this video, we’ll cover: 00:00 – Introduction 01:05 – What is Rheumatic Fever? 02:15 – Causes of Rheumatic Fever 03:45 – Symptoms and Signs 06:00 – Pathophysiology 08:30 – Diagnosis and Lab Tests 11:00 – Treatment Options 13:15 – Prevention Tips 15:00 – Long-Term Effects and Complications 17:20 – FAQs and Summary 📌 What is Rheumatic Fever? Rheumatic Fever is an inflammatory disease that can develop as a complication of untreated or poorly treated streptococcal throat infections (strep throat or scarlet fever). It primarily affects children and adolescents aged 5–15 but can impact anyone. This condition can cause permanent damage to the heart, joints, skin, and brain if left untreated. 🔬 Causes of Rheumatic Fever Rheumatic Fever is caused by a delayed autoimmune response to Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection. The body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, especially the heart valves, due to molecular mimicry. This can result in rheumatic heart disease, one of the most severe consequences. ⚠️ Common Symptoms of Rheumatic Fever 🩺 High fever 🩺 Painful and swollen joints (migratory arthritis) 🩺 Chest pain or palpitations 🩺 Fatigue and shortness of breath 🩺 Skin rash (erythema marginatum) 🩺 Nodules under the skin 🩺 Involuntary movements (Sydenham chorea or St. Vitus dance) These symptoms may vary from person to person. Early detection is key to preventing complications. 🧬 Pathophysiology The autoimmune reaction triggered by strep throat leads to inflammation in the connective tissues. The heart (particularly the mitral and aortic valves), joints, brain, and skin become targets of immune attack. The resulting damage, especially to the heart valves, can become permanent if not managed promptly. 🧪 Diagnosis Doctors diagnose Rheumatic Fever based on the revised Jones criteria, which include: ✅ Major Criteria: Carditis, Polyarthritis, Chorea, Subcutaneous nodules, Erythema marginatum ✅ Minor Criteria: Fever, Arthralgia, Elevated ESR/CRP, Prolonged PR interval ✅ Evidence of preceding streptococcal infection (positive throat culture or elevated antistreptolysin O titer) Medical professionals use a combination of clinical signs and laboratory findings to confirm the diagnosis. 💊 Treatment Options Treatment for Rheumatic Fever includes: 💉 Antibiotics (typically penicillin) to eliminate any remaining strep bacteria 💊 Anti-inflammatory medications (aspirin, corticosteroids) to control inflammation 🫀 Heart medications if there is carditis or heart failure 🩺 Bed rest during the acute phase 📅 Long-term antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent recurrence Early intervention can drastically reduce the risk of complications like rheumatic heart disease. 🛡️ Prevention 🦷 Early and effective treatment of strep throat is the best way to prevent Rheumatic Fever. Completing the full course of antibiotics is critical. In high-risk communities, regular screenings and access to healthcare can save lives. ❤️ Complications of Rheumatic Fever ⛔ Rheumatic heart disease ⛔ Heart valve stenosis or regurgitation ⛔ Chronic heart failure ⛔ Recurrent fever episodes ⛔ Neurological disorders (from Sydenham chorea) Rheumatic Fever is one of the leading causes of acquired heart disease in children worldwide. 🔍 Keywords and Tags to Help You Discover This Video: Rheumatic fever explained, rheumatic fever causes, rheumatic fever symptoms, rheumatic fever in children, rheumatic fever treatment, rheumatic fever prevention, rheumatic fever and heart disease, Jones criteria, strep throat complications, Sydenham chorea, rheumatic heart disease, group A streptococcus, mitral valve damage, autoimmune fever, infectious disease, heart inflammation, medical education, cardiology basics, pediatric heart disease, fever and joint pain in children, ASO titer test, strep throat to heart disease 📚 Helpful Resources: WHO: Rheumatic Heart Disease CDC: Strep Throat and Rheumatic Fever American Heart Association: Understanding Rheumatic Fever 💬 Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe! 👍 If you found this video helpful, please give it a thumbs up! 💬 Drop your questions in the comments below – we’ll try to answer them all! 🔔 Subscribe for more educational videos on medical and health topics. 📣 Share this video with friends, students, or colleagues who might benefit from it! #RheumaticFever #MedicalEducation #Cardiology #InfectiousDiseases #RheumaticHeartDisease #StrepThroat #ChildHealth ‪@forevermuslims‬ #AutoimmuneDiseases #JonesCriteria #MedicalStudents #HealthAwareness #PreventRheumaticFever . @doctorslifewithdrinam