Pathology Flashcards
Acute rheumatic fever cause
Group A streptococcus bacteria infects upper respiratory tract causing sore throat and later auto-immune response
Latency period between GAS infection and ARF symtoms
3 weeks
Rheumatic heart disease
Damage to mitral or aortic valves that remains after ARF has resolved
Populations most likely to get ARF
Children between 5 and 15
North island
Maori (20 x higher) and Pacific (40 x higher)
Link between ARF and socio-economic status
Crowded housing conditions
Barriers to primary healthcare
Untreated strep throat infections
Symptoms of ARF
Sore knee, elbow, ankle, wrist joints due to moving inflammation Skin rash Fever Fatigue Breathlessness Fidgety, jerky movements
Primary prevention of ARF
Appropriate treatment of sore throats in high risk populations
Intramuscular penicillin or 10 day course oral penicillin
Secondary prevention of ARF
Continuous administration of antibiotics in those with recurrent ARF or RHD to prevent infection with GAS again
Primordial prevention of ARF
Social and environmental risk factors
Overcrowding, poor living conditions and other effects of poverty
RHD
Most often the mitral valve with mitral regurgitation
Fibrosis of leaflets and subvalvular structures
Valve leaflets become immobile
Eventually dilation of left ventricle leading to myocardial fibrosis and eventually ventricular dysfunction and cardiac failure
Mitral stenosis leads to atrial dilatation which can cause atrial fibrillation and thromboembolism
Main causes of CHD and stroke
High LDL High saturated fat diet High blood pressure High BMI HIgh salt and alcohol intake High blood sugar Smoking
Atherosclerosis
Disease affecting the inenrmost layer of large and medium sized arteries
Plaques
Deposits of fibrous tissue and lipids
Arteriosclerosis
General term for hardening or arteries of which atherosclerosis is a type
Four major positive risk factors for atherosclerosis
Hyperlipidaemia
Smoking
Hypertension
Diabetes mellitus
