Rheumatic Heart Disease is a condition that happens when the valves of the heart have been permanently damaged by rheumatic fever. This heart valve damage can start right after an untreated streptococcal infection like strep throat or scarlet fever. The immune response to these bacteria leads to an attack on the tissues of the heart which can result in ongoing heart tissue damage.
Rheumatic fever can happen at any age but is most typical in children who are 5 to 15 years of age.
One of the key factors in this condition is a recent strep infection or a recent rheumatic fever. The other symptoms that might be indicative of rheumatic heart disease are:
The cause of rheumatic heart disease is an episode of rheumatic fever. This is an inflammatory condition that can affect connective tissues in the joints and the brain and which can also take a toll on the heart. This infection causes scarring and inflammation in the heart that leads to heart valve damage and eventual heart failure if the condition is not treated early.
The risk factors for rheumatic heart disease are:
Your provider will first confirm that you have had a recent strep infection. They will then take a throat culture or a blood test to look for strep. Your doctor will also listen to your heart to see if they hear rubbing or murmuring noises that are associated with heart damage. Some other tests might be done to confirm rheumatic heart disease as well:
The best treatment for rheumatic heart disease is prevention. Antibiotics should be used to treat strep infections and keep rheumatic fever from developing. Anti-inflammatory drugs might also be given to those with strep infections to keep damage to the heart at bay.
Treatment of rheumatic heart disease usually involves a regimen of daily antibiotics that are used to keep recurrent infections at bay. If there is damage to the heart, heart medications might be given such as beta blockers, or blood thinners. Patients with severe damage to the heart might have to change their activities and their diet to help support better heart health.
The severity of the damage to the heart will guide each patient’s treatment protocol, and a variety of specialists might need to be involved in creating a care plan. In some cases, surgery might be necessary to repair damage to the heart.