Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is a very rare complication that can develop after a bacterial throat infection. It mainly affects children, and can cause painful joints and heart problems. Most people make a full recovery, but it can come back.
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Medicines commonly prescribed for Rheumatic fever
For informational purposes only. Always consult a doctor before using any medicine.
Dosage form: ORAL SOLUTION/SUSPENSION, 400 mgActive substance: ibuprofenManufacturer: Farmalider S.A.Prescription requiredDosage form: EFFERVSCENT ORAL SOLUTION/SUSPENSION, 600 mgActive substance: ibuprofenManufacturer: Kern Pharma S.L.Prescription requiredDosage form: TABLET, 400 mgActive substance: ibuprofenManufacturer: Teva Pharma S.L.U.Prescription required
Rheumatic fever is a very rare complication that can develop after a bacterial throat infection. It mainly affects children, and can cause painful joints and heart problems. Most people make a full recovery, but it can come back.
How rheumatic fever is treated
If you or your child are diagnosed with rheumatic fever, you'll have treatment to relieve the symptoms and control inflammation.
You may need:
- antibiotics
- painkillers – given as tablets, capsules or a liquid you drink
- steroids – if your pain is severe
- medicines to treat severe jerky, uncontrollable movements
Getting plenty of bed rest will also help with your recovery.
Most people usually make a full recovery by about 3 months. But it can sometimes take longer to get better.
Ongoing treatment for rheumatic fever
If you've had rheumatic fever once, it's more likely to come back, so make sure to get sore throats treated early.
You may also have to take antibiotics for several years to help stop it returning.
It's less likely that it will come back if it's been 5 years since you last had an episode. The younger you are, the more likely it is that rheumatic fever will come back.
It can also cause permanent damage to your heart (rheumatic heart disease). This can take years to show up, so you may need regular check-ups and further treatment when you're older.
Always ask a doctor what ongoing treatment you may need.
See a GP if:
- you've had rheumatic fever before and you get a sore throat
- you've had rheumatic fever before and you think it's come back
- you've had a bacterial throat infection recently and you get symptoms of rheumatic fever
Symptoms of rheumatic fever
Symptoms of rheumatic fever usually appear 1 to 5 weeks after you've had a bacterial throat infection.
They can include:
- a high temperature
- pain and swelling in your joints (arthritis), usually ankles, knees, wrists or elbows – your joints may also look red, although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin
- pain in your chest, breathlessness and a fast heart rate
- jerky, uncontrollable movements in your hands, feet and face
- tiny bumps under your skin
- pale-red patches on your arms and tummy (abdomen) – these may be harder to see on brown or black skin
Causes of rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever happens after a bacterial throat or skin infection. Most people who have an infection will not get rheumatic fever.
It's not caused by the bacteria itself but by your immune system fighting off the infection and attacking the healthy tissue instead.
It's not known why your immune system can suddenly stop working properly. But your genes may make it more likely that you'll get rheumatic fever.
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