Rheumatic Fever: Understanding, Managing, and Preventing this Condition

What is Rheumatic fever?

Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune reaction that occurs when your child’s immune system mistakenly attacks its healthy tissues after a Group A Streptococcus infection. Basically, Rheumatic fever is an overreaction of your child’s immune system that causes it to fight healthy tissues. It happens when your child doesn’t receive antibiotic treatment for group A Streptococcus infections and their body’s defenses (antibodies) begin to fight back, this reaction can damage healthy tissues and organs instead of the bacteria.

Causes of Rheumatic fever

Rheumatic fever can develop after an infection with a bacterium called as Group A Streptococcus which affects the throat. Group A Streptococcus causes throat infections (strep throat) or rarely the scarlet fever.

Rheumatic fever is mostly seen in 5 to 15 year old children. However it can occur in younger children and adults. Though it’s become less common in developed countries due to effective antibiotic treatments, rheumatic fever still poses a significant health risk in many parts of the world. The condition affects connective tissues in the heart, joints, skin, and brain, potentially leading to long-term complications such as rheumatic heart disease.

Following are the risk factors of Rheumatic fever:

• Family history: Inheritance of a gene or genes that may make them more prone to develop rheumatic fever.
• Type of strep bacteria: Some strains of strep bacteria contribute more to rheumatic fever than other strains.
• Living Conditions: rapid exposure to strep bacteria can occur due to overcrowding, poor sanitation or other conditions.

Signs and symptoms of Rheumatic Fever

The onset of rheumatic fever generally develops about two to four weeks following a strep throat infection. Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid fever include:

• Fever
• Pain and tenderness of joints generally in the knees, elbows, ankles, and wrists
• Pain migrates from one joint to another joint
• Red, or swollen joints
• Small, painless nodules beneath the skin
• Chest pain
• Heart murmur
• Fatigue
• Painless rash with a worn out edge
• Jerky, unmanageable body movements
• Outbursts of abnormal behavior

How Rheumatic fever can be diagnosed?

Diagnosis of rheumatic fever is done on the basis of physical exam, medical history, and certain test results as follows:

• Blood tests: A blood test will be advised by the doctor to detect antibodies to the strep bacterium. To determine the inflammation in your child's blood your doctor may suggest you C-reactive protein test and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate test.
• Electrocardiogram: In this test electrical signals are recorded when they travel through your child's heart. This can help to observe the patterns of these signals that will reveal the inflammation of the heart or weak heart function.
• Echocardiogram: In this diagnose procedure heart abnormalities can be detected by using sound waves that produce live-action images of the heart.

How Rheumatic fever can be treated?

Following are the treatments of Rheumatic fever:

1. Medicines for Rheumatic fever:

Antibiotics: Doctor may prescribe your child penicillin or another antibiotic to remove the remaining strep bacteria. After the full antibiotic treatment, doctor will begin another antibiotics course to prevent reappearance of rheumatic fever. People with heart inflammation in rheumatic fever may be suggested to take the preventive antibiotic treatment for at least 10 years.

Anti-inflammatory treatment: Pain relievers may be prescribed by the doctor to reduce fever, inflammation, and pain. In case anti-inflammatory drugs are not able to produce relief then a Corticosteroid may be prescribed by the doctor.

Anticonvulsant medications: For severe reflex movements doctor may prescribe you anticonvulsant drug

2. Alternative treatments for rheumatic fever:

• Ayurvedic medicines for rheumatic fever: The administration of Saubhagya Vati, Aamavatari Rasa and Hinguleshwar are known to relief the condition of rheumatic fever.
• Homoepathic medicines for rheumatic fever: Aconite, Belladonna, Annacardium, Arsenicum, Arnica, and Kalmia are the famous herbs used in the homeopathic treatment of rheumatic fever.
• Acupuncture for rheumatic fever: acupuncture is sometimes recommended to relief the pain and relaxes the muscles.

3. Dietary supplement for rheumatic fever:

Dietary supplements mean the herbs, vitamins, minerals, and many other products that have a vital role in the maintenance of health. They are accessible as drinks, pills, capsules, powders and energy bars. The most recommended dietary supplement for the treatment of Rheumatic fever is GLME.

GLME (Green Lipped Mussel Extract): GLME (Green lipped mussel extract) is the best dietary supplement for rheumatic fever. It is extracted from the green lipped mussel which is a shell fish grown in the farms of New Zealand. It is the best treatment for the patients of rheumatic fever it has great nutritional value.

Following are the unique benefits of GLME (Green lipped mussel extract) in the treatment and management of rheumatic fever:

• It improves the joint lubrication and enhances the joint mobility.
• It guards the stomach lining from the severe reactions of medicines used in the treatment of rheumatic fever by serving as Gastro-protective.
• It assists other medicines to show their maximum efficacy.
• It reduces the inflammation and hence swelling and pain by controlling the inflammation process through several mechanisms.

How rheumatic fever can be managed?

Following activities can help your child to manage with rheumatic fever:

• Until the improvement of pain and other symptoms your doctor may recommend your child to restrict his or her activities.
• Your child may need strict bed rest of few weeks few months if inflammation is in his/her heart tissues based on the degree of inflammation.

Rheumatic fever, though preventable and treatable, remains a serious health issue that requires timely intervention. By recognizing the symptoms, seeking timely medical care, and adhering to preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of complications.

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