Rheumatic Fever

Exam Cram

• Rheumatic fever is a inflammatory process that occurs from inadequate treatment of Group A Streptococcal (GAS)  throat infection 

• Commonest cause of mitral stenosis worldwide, and has the potential to cause any of the valvuar diseases

• Presentation: fatigue, fevers, arthralgia, chest pain, foreign travel history, PND and rash

• Management: penicillin V (GAS), ECHO 

Med Reg Notes

Diagnosis

Diagnostic criteria: 

• Streph throat infection & 

• 2 major or 1 major & 2 minor

  • Major: migrating polyarthritis, carditis, erythema marginatum, subcutaenous nodules, sydenham's chorea

  • Minor: fever, raised CRP, arthralgia, ECG-heart block, previous rheumatic fever

Resources and References

Links

Body systems: Cardiovascular, Haematopoetic-immune systems

Specialties: Cardiology, Infectious Diseases, Paediatrics

Written in 2025.