Rheumatic heart disease describes a group of short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) heart disorders that are caused by rheumatic fever. It usually occurs 10-20 years after the initial illness. Not everyone with rheumatic fever will go on to develop rheumatic heart disease.
Symptoms
• fever
• painful joints
• migrating pain from joint to joint
• red, warm, swollen joints
• small, painless bumps beneath the skin
• chest pain
• heart murmur
• painless rash with a jagged edge (erythema marginatum)
• jerky movements
• unusual behaviours accompanying the movements
Diagnosis
• phlysical examination
• echocardiogram
• chest X-ray
Treatment
• Be smoke-free.
• Be more active.
• Eat a healthy balanced diet – there are some specific diets you can follow that have been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease.
• Aim for a healthy weight.
• Drink less alcohol.
• Manage stress.
