rheumatic fever Flashcards
the following is going to talk about rheumatic fever
what is rheumatic fever?
an inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects the heart, joints, skin
often caused by a previous sore throat infection left untreated
what is the most serious complication of rheumatic fever?
rheumatic heart disease which affects the cardiac and mitral valve
rheumatic fever often manifests 2 to 6 weeks after an untreated what?
group a beta hemolytic streptococcal infection of the upper respiratory tract
what are the common clinical manifestation of rheumatic fever? (7)
chorea
fever
carditis
erythema margintaum
abdominal pain
subcutaneous nodules
polyarthtisis
what is chorea?
involuntary movements of extremities
what is carditis?
inflammation of all parts of the heart, mainly the mitral valve
what is erythema marginatum?
red skin lesions usually at the center of the body
what is subcutaneous nodules?
small, contender swelling often over the joints
what is polyarthtisis?
tender, painful joints ( elbow, knees, ankles and wrists )
what medication is often prescribed for this patient? (2)
anti inflammatory for the arthtisits pain
penicillin for chorea
lastly another assessment tool we can see for this disease is using the diagnosing of Aschoff bodies ( lesions ) where?
lesion found in the heart, blood vessels, brain and serous surfaces of the joints and pleura
