Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic heart disease is heart valve damage due to rheumatic fever. The fever is your body’s inflammatory response to a bacterial infection. Children in poor countries without access to antibiotics are at the highest risk.

Overview #

• Rheumatic heart disease is heart valve damage resulting from rheumatic fever.

• Bacterial infections called group A streptococcal (GAS) infections can cause rheumatic fever.

• An infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever, triggers your body’s immune response.

• It causes inflammation throughout the body, including in the heart.

• If untreated, the inflammation can lead to permanent heart valve damage and serious health problems.

Causes #

• Heart valve inflammation from rheumatic fever causes rheumatic heart disease.

• The damage may occur right away. Or it can develop over time from repeated strep infections.

• Continuing inflammation leads to heart valve scarring and narrowing.

• The disease tends to affect the mitral and aortic heart valves.

• These valves control blood flow. If the valves don’t work, blood leaks backward into the heart instead of flowing out of the heart.

Symptoms #

• Chest pain.

• Fatigue.

• Heart murmur.

• Shortness of breath.

• Swelling in the stomach, hands or feet.

Diagnosis #

• Blood tests to check for inflammation or a high immune response.

• Echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) to find leaky or narrowed heart valves.

• Electrocardiogram (test of the heart’s electrical activity) to check the heartbeat.

Prevention #

You can prevent rheumatic heart disease by taking antibiotics at the first signs of a streptococcal infection. See your healthcare provider if you or your child has:

• Chorea (jerky, uncontrollable muscles movements).

• Fever.

• Joint pain.

• Muscle pain.

• Sore throat.

• Tonsilitis (swollen tonsils).

Treatment #

Medication #

Your provider may recommend medication to manage an abnormal heartbeat. Anticoagulants (blood thinners) can reduce the risk of stroke or blood clots.

Surgery #

Severe rheumatic heart disease may need heart valve surgery. A surgeon repairs or replaces damaged heart valves.