|
|
Article: Rheumatic Fever
- Article from:
- Complete Human Diseases and Conditions
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Gale Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Rheumatic Fever
From a Sore Throat to a Damaged Heart
A Turn for the Worse
The Importance of Antibiotics
Rheumatic (roo-MA-tik) fever is a complication of a strep throat infection that can lead to permanent heart damage and death. It is most common in children.
KEYWORDS
for searching the Internet and other reference sources
Heart disease
Streptococcal infection
Sydenham
’
s chorea
Until recently, doctors thought rheumatic fever had almost disappeared from the United States. In 1950, before the widespread use of antibiotics to fight
strep*
infections, more than 22,000 people died of rheumatic fever and the heart disease it caused. During the 1950s, almost 25 of every ...