Rheumatic fever that is a result of a strep throat infection is the reason behind acute rheumatic heart disease. Rheumatic fever normally attacks children between the age of five and fifteen. This is the reason behind inflammation of connective tissues that causes damage to the heart.
Although children are more likely to suffer from it, even adults who have a strep throat can experience it that leads to rheumatic fever. The other parts that can get affected because of this condition are the joints, brain, as well as the skin. This damage done to the heart lasts a lifetime and causes major complications, and all of this is a result of rheumatic fever.
The Symptoms And Prevention of Acute Rheumatic Heart Disease
The first step to treat acute rheumatic heart disease is to get the strep throat infections treated immediately with antibiotics that avoid rheumatic fever that is capable of damaging the heart. Rheumatic fever can recur and so the lifelong usage of antibiotics comes into existence to prevent further damage of the heart.
After experiencing rheumatic fever, the damage caused to the heart does not become evident immediately. Acute rheumatic heart disease causes the valves not to open and close properly. A serious heart failure can be caused due to these valves. In acute rheumatic heart disease, the valves can cause the heart to enlarge causing the poor blood circulation from the heart to the rest of the body.
The most appropriate treatment for cute rheumatic heart disease would be to prevent any future episodes of rheumatic fever. When the valves become scarred beyond a small leak, surgery is the only option to treat the heart to fix the valves. If these valves are damaged severely then the treatment for acute rheumatic heart disease would include placing an artificial valve.
The best possible treatment would be for the parents to have an eye on their children and see if they are experiencing a strep throat, and if they are to get them treated immediately to avoid rheumatic fever and further damage of the heart.