What is the management of Rheumatic fever?

• antibiotics: oral penicillin V
• anti-inflammatories: NSAIDs are first-line
• treatment of any complications that develop e.g. heart failure

What are the main causes of Rheumatic fever?

develops following an immunological reaction to a recent (2-4 weeks ago) Streptococcus pyogenes infection

What is the pathophysiology of Rheumatic fever?

the cell wall of Streptococcus pyogenes includes M protein, a virulence factor that is highly antigenic. It is thought that the antibodies against M protein cross-react with myosin and the smooth muscle of arteries

What are the Major diagnostic criteria for Rheumatic fever?

• erythema marginatum
• Sydenham's chorea: this is often a late feature
• polyarthritis
• carditis and valvulitis (eg, pancarditis)
• subcutaneous nodules

What are the Minor diagnostic criteria for Rheumatic fever?

• raised ESR or CRP
• pyrexia
• arthralgia (not if arthritis a major criteria)
• prolonged PR interval

What is the Diagnostic criteria of Rheumatic fever?

evidence of recent streptococcal infection accompanied by:

• 2 major criteria
• 1 major with 2 minor criteria

What is seen in tissue biopsy in Rheumatic fever?

Aschoff bodies: granulomatous nodules found in rheumatic heart fever