Rheumatic Heart Disease

An infection in the heart by particular bacteria called streptococcus leads to acute rheumatic fever. This fever causes pain and swelling of multiple major joints like shoulders, elbows, wrist, knees, hips and ankles leading to rheumatic heart disease. It is known as one of the most serious form of child hood problem damaging the entire heart and membrane.

The effected heart becomes over active during work or play and during emotional excitement. The most common system of the disease is breathlessness, fatigue, palpitation, chest pain and fainting attack. These systems generally begin one to six weeks after the bout of strep throat. But it depends on person to person. Some people may not face any problem for years.

To know if the heart has been affected two tests are done, a chest x-ray and an electro cardio gram. The test are neither painful nor pose any risk to the patient.

Best treatment is to prevent the rheumatic fever. This can be done by taking immediate and adequate treatment of throat infections. Don’t neglect soar throat accompanied by fever, especially in young children. Precaution has to be taken and course of pencilin or other anti biotic is given for many years so that it does not happen again as it can be fatal if the fever recurs.

In case the inflammation of heart is developed, the patient is given complete bed rest with medication to reduce the inflammation and a course of anti biotic is given to treat the streptococcus infection. In severe cases surgery is also done by implanting an artificial wall or opening an excessively narrow wall. You can speed up your recovery by taking care of your diet, rest and exercise.

Remember, do not be complacent and get yourself and your loved one checked as soon as you see any symptomes. Its better to be safe than sorry.