Rheumatic fever is a very rare complication that can develop
after a bacterial throat infection. It can cause painful joints and heart
problems. Most people make a full recovery but it can come back.
How rheumatic fever is treated
If you or your child are diagnosed with rheumatic fever, you'll
have treatment to relieve the symptoms and control inflammation.
You may need:
- antibiotics
- painkillers – given as tablets, capsules or a liquid you
drink
- steroid injections – if your pain is severe
- medicines – if you're having jerky, uncontrollable
movements
You should also get plenty of bed rest to help with your
recovery.
Information:
Most people usually make a full recovery after about a month. But it
can sometimes take longer to get better.
Ongoing treatment for rheumatic fever
If you have had rheumatic fever once, it makes it more likely that it
could come back, so make sure to get sore throats treated early.
You may also be advised to take antibiotics for several years to try to
stop it returning.
It's less likely that it'll come back if it's been 5 years
since you last had an episode and if you're older than 25.
But it can cause permanent damage to your heart (rheumatic heart
disease). This can take years to show up, so you may need regular check-ups and further
treatment when you're older.
Always ask a doctor what ongoing treatment you may need.
See a GP if:
- you have had rheumatic fever before and you think it's
come back
- you have had a bacterial throat infection recently and you
develop symptoms of rheumatic fever
Symptoms of rheumatic fever
Symptoms usually appear 2 to 4 weeks after you have had a bacterial
throat infection.
They include:
- a high temperature of 38C or above (fever)
- redness, pain and swelling of your joints (arthritis) –
usually ankles, knees, wrists or elbows
- pain in your chest, breathlessness and a fast heart
rate
- jerky, uncontrollable movements in your hands, feet and
face
- tiny bumps under your skin
- pale-red patches on your arms and tummy
Causes of rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever occurs after you have had a bacterial throat infection.
But most people who have had a throat infection won't develop rheumatic
fever.
It's not caused by the bacteria itself but by your immune system
fighting off the infection and attacking the healthy tissue instead.
It's not known why your immune system can suddenly stop working
properly. But your genes may make it more likely that you'll get rheumatic
fever.