What is rheumatic heart disease?

Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which permanent damage to heart valves is caused by rheumatic fever. The heart valve is damaged by a disease process that generally begins with a strep throat caused by streptococcus type A bacteria.

The effects of rheumatic fever:

o Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease process, be capable of affect a lot of connective tissues, particularly in the heart, joints, skin, and brain.

o It can occur at any age, but usually occurs in children five to 15 years old.

o It causes heart damage - mainly scarring in the heart valves and forcing the heart to work overload to force blood and might finally result to congestive heart failure.

What are the symptoms of rheumatic fever?

The following are the mainly ordinary symptoms for initial rheumatic fever; though, every person might experience symptoms in a different way. Symptoms, which differ significantly, characteristically start one up to six weeks following short period medications of strep throat, although, in some cases, the infection may have been too mild to have been recognized.

Symptoms may include:

o fever

o swollen, tender, red and extremely excruciating pain in joints mainly the knee, ankle, elbow, and wrists

o nodules over swollen joints

o uncontrolled movements of arms, legs, or facial muscles

o weakness and shortness of breath

The sign and symptoms of rheumatic fever may be similar to other bone disorders and medical problems.

Treatment for rheumatic heart disease:

Specific treatment for rheumatic heart disease will be determined by your physician based on:

o your overall health and medical history

o degree of the disease

o your acceptance for particular medications, procedures se up, and several therapies

o outlook for the course of the disease

o your view and preference

Since rheumatic fever is the cause of rheumatic heart disease, the best treatment is to prevent rheumatic fever from occurring. Penicillin and extra antibiotics can typically care for a streptococcus classified as type A bacterial infection and discontinue acute fever from mounting.

In the past, people who got rheumatic fever were frequently given nonstop every day and every month antibiotic medications, probably for life, to prevent future attacks and lower the risk of heart damage. Antibiotic therapy has sharply reduced the incidence and mortality rate. To decrease inflammation, aspirin, steroids, and non-steroidal drugs may be given. Surgical procedure may be essential to repair and replace the damaged valve.

Complications Rheumatic heart disease:

The list of complications that have been mentioned in various sources for Rheumatic heart disease includes:

o Endocarditic is inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.

o Bacterial endocarditic is the infection and inflammation of the inner layers of the heart, most commonly the valves cause by bacteria.

o Heart failure a syndrome classified by myocardial malfunction, heart failure can lead to deficient pump performance reduced cardiac output and to frank heart failure and abnormal circulatory congestion. Congestion of systemic venous flow may end up in tangential edema and hepatomegaly; congestion of pulmonary circulation may cause pulmonary edema, an acute, life-threatening emergency.

Amanda Jones is an avid researcher on Heart Disease and the ways to prevent heart disease. Find out more information about your heart and heart disease at http://www.moreaboutheartdisease.com