Definition

Rheumatic fever (RF) is an illness that occurs as a complication of untreated or inadequately treated strep throat infection. Rheumatic fever causes inflammation of tissues and organs and can result in serious damage to the heart valves, joints, central nervous system and skin.

Rheumatic fever is rare in the United States, though there were outbreaks in both New York City and in Utah in the 1990s. The disease is more prevalent in the developing world, where rheumatic fever is the leading cause of heart disease. In some countries, as many as one to two percent of children are afflicted with the disease.

Description

Though the exact cause of rheumatic fever is unknown, the disease usually follows the contraction of a throat infection...