Living with Rheumatic fever
An inflammatory condition that can follow a strep infection and may affect joints, skin, the heart, and the nervous system.
Understanding Rheumatic fever
Early signs include sore throat, swollen red tonsils, fever, headache, and muscle and joint aches. Some people develop rheumatic heart disease, which can inflame and scar the heart valves. GARD says it is not clear why some people go on to develop it, but some families may be more susceptible. It most often starts in childhood.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Fever
- Joint pain and arthritis
- Chest pain and heart rhythm changes
- Jerky movements (chorea)
- Firm lumps under the skin
- Heart valve and heart muscle inflammation
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include autoimmune and inflammatory disease specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Autoimmune Association and Global Autoimmune Institute may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- autoimmune and inflammatory disease specialists (rheumatologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Autoimmune Association, Global Autoimmune Institute
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Autoimmune Association and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
It can develop after a group A strep infection. GARD says it is unclear why only some people get it, and some families may have a genetic susceptibility.
Also known as: acute arthritis due to acute rheumatic fever; acute rheumatic arthritis; acute rheumatic fever; acute rheumatic fever with acute arthritis; arf; arf - acute rheumatic fever
Patient organizations
- Autoimmune AssociationRheumatic fever · United States
- Global Autoimmune InstituteRheumatic fever · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Rheumatic fever.
Explore research for Rheumatic fever
Explore actively recruiting Rheumatic fever studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Rheumatic fever with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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