Acute Rheumatic Fever

Question 1

Define Acute rheumatic fever

Answer 1

Delayed inflammatory complications of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis (GAS)

Question 2

Etiology of this disease?

Answer 2

Previous infection with GAS

Question 3

GAS is also referred to as?

Answer 3

Streptococcus pyogenes

Question 4

What pathologies are typically associated with GAS?

Answer 4

Usually acute tonsillitis or pharyngitis (strep throat)

Question 5

Clinical features:

1. Constitutional symptoms?
2. Joint symptoms?

Answer 5

1. Fever, malaise, fatigue
2. Migratory polyarthritis

Question 6

Clinical features:

1. Heart symptoms

Answer 6

Pancarditis, valvular lesions, early mitral regurgitation, late mitral stenosis, aortic regurgitation and stenosis, and dilated cardiomyopathy

Question 7

Clinical features:

CNS symptoms?
- What are some characteristics of each?

Answer 7

Sydenham chorea (involuntary, irrrgular, nonrepetitive movements of limbs, neck, head, and or face), milkmaid grip (intermittent loss of contraction), choreic hand (spooning of the hand)

Question 8

This is an example of?

Answer 8

Choreic hand

Question 9

Clinical features:

Skin symptoms

Answer 9

Subcutaneous nodules and erythema marginatum (pink or light red rash)

Question 10

This is an example of?

Answer 10

Erythema marginatum