Rheumatic Fever:

• What is rheumatic fever?

• Inflammatory disease that can develop after an untreated strep throat, scarlet fever infection or impetigo.

What does rheumatic fever affect?

The heart joints, skin, blood vessels and brain

• Who is most commonly affected by rheumatic fever?

• Children between the ages 5 and 15

• Is  rheumatic fever contagious?

• No but can lead to rheumatic heart disease if not treated

• Why does  rheumatic fever occur?

• Within 2-5 weeks following undertreated/untreated GABHS infection

What are the manifestations of  rheumatic fever/

• Elevated CRP

• Tachycardia

• Cardiomegaly

• Murmur

• Muffled heart sounds

• Pericardial friction rub

• Chest pain (carditis)

• Large joints with painful swelling

• Involuntary muscle moves (Face and body)

• Muscle weakness

• Labile emotions

• Irritability

• Behavioral problems

• Pink macular rash

• How do you diagnose rheumatic fever?

By identifying either 2 major or 1 major and 2 minor

What are major manifestations of rheumatic fever?

• carditis

• polyarthritis

• sydenham chorea

• erythema marginatum

• subcutaneous nodules

• What are minor manifestations of rheumatic fever?

• Fever

• Polyarthralgia

• Elevated c-reactive protein level

• Prolonged PR level

• What is the nursing care of rheumatic fever?

• Administer antibiotics as prescribed (penicillin)

• May need cardiac valve repair/replacement surgery

• Follow up with cardiologist regularly

• What are complications of  rheumatic fever?

• Heart disease

• Atrial fibrillation

• Embolism

• What is JONES in rheumatic fever?

• Joints polyarthritis

• Carditis

• Nodules

• Erythema margination

• Sydenham's chorea