What happens if rheumatic fever is not treated

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Steer A, et al. Acute rheumatic fever: Epidemiology and pathogenesis. Accessed Aug. Leal MTBC, et al. Rheumatic heart disease in the modern era: Recent developments and current challenges.

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Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which the heart valves have been permanently damaged by rheumatic fever. The heart valve damage may start shortly after untreated or under-treated streptococcal infection such as strep throat or scarlet fever. An immune response causes an inflammatory condition in the body which can result in on-going valve damage. Rheumatic heart disease is caused by rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can affect many connective tissues, especially in the heart, joints, skin, or brain.

The heart valves can be inflamed and become scarred over time. This can result in narrowing or leaking of the heart valve making it harder for the heart to function normally. This may take years to develop and can result in heart failure. Rheumatic fever can occur at any age, but usually occurs in children ages 5 to 15 years old. Untreated or under-treated strep infections can increase the risk for rheumatic heart disease. Children who get repeated strep throat infections are at the most risk for rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

A recent history of strep infection or rheumatic fever is key to the diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease. Symptoms of rheumatic fever vary and typically begin 1 to 6 weeks after a bout of strep throat. In some cases, the infection may have been too mild to have been recognized, or it may be gone by the time the person sees a doctor.

People with rheumatic heart disease will have or recently had a strep infection. A throat culture or blood test may be used to check for strep. They may have a murmur or rub that may be heard during a routine physical exam.

The murmur is caused by the blood leaking around the damages valve. The rub is caused when the inflamed heart tissues move or rub against each other. Along with a complete medical history and physical exam, tests used to diagnose rheumatic heart disease may include:. Echocardiogram echo. This test uses sound waves to check the heart's chambers and valves. The echo sound waves create a picture on a screen as an ultrasound transducer is passed over the skin overlying the heart.

Echo can show damage to the valve flaps, backflow of blood through a leaky valve, fluid around the heart, and heart enlargement. The best way to keep from getting or spreading group A strep infections such as strep throat or scarlet fever is to wash your hands often, especially after coughing or sneezing and before preparing foods or eating. Preventive antibiotics help protect people who had rheumatic fever from getting it again.

Prophylaxis can include daily antibiotics by mouth or a shot into the muscle every few weeks. Top of Page. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. Doctors look to see how well the heart is working when diagnosing rheumatic fever. Related Links. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.

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