Rheumatic Fever Flashcards

1
Q

How does rheumatic fever present?

A
sore, swollen joints (polyarthritis)
restless in school/poor handwriting (chorea)
short of breath (severe carditis)
erythema marginatum
subcutaneous nodules

Use of Jones criteria, most common in young children in poor areas

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2
Q

What leads to rheumatic fever?

A

Streptococcal pyogenes causing pharyngitis, followed by autoimmune response

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3
Q

What does Jones criteria say?

A

Major and minor symptoms (list of these)
Must have throat swab show presence of group A streptococcal bacteria

Strep confirmed plus 2 major criteria or one major and two minor

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4
Q

What are risk factors for rheumatic fever?

A

Social- poor housing/crowding; low decile education
Health- not equal access to healthcare
Economic: poverty
Ethnic-disparities, particularly with poverty

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5
Q

What is important in streptococcal management?

A

A 10 day treatment of oral penicillin or amoxycillin or a long lasting benzathine penicillin

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