Rheumatic Fever

Rheumatic Fever

Rheumatic Fever is a very serious illness here in New Zealand. It affects mostly Māori and Pacific children and adults, aged 4-19 years. It is an illness which starts with streptococcal infection.

What can Rheumatic fever lead to?

Few weeks after the infection with the ‘strep bug’ it can develop other symptoms such as sore throats, swollen joints, a skin rash, a fever, stomach pain and jerky movements. Each attack of rheumatic fever may cause permanent damage to their heart valves. This is called rheumatic heart disease which will lead you to have regular penicillin injections up to ten years.

How can Rheumatic Fever affect your heart?

Each attack of rheumatic fever may cause permanent damage to your heart valves. This is called rheumatic heart disease where the heart valves act like a one-way door. That means the blood pumped by the heart flows one direction only. When the heart valve is damaged the blood can leak and may cause breathless and tiredness. When you get Rheumatic Fever you might end up staying in hospital for about two weeks, but it sometimes takes longer if your heart is affected.

So remember,  if you have a sore throat, you need to check with your family doctor as soon as you can before it is too late.