Rheumatic fever is the most dangerous of the common diseases that can afflict a child. It can lead to rheumatic heart disease which a common child heart disease. It is dangerous because the symptoms can be mild and hard to recognise. In the worst case, it is difficult to assess whether it has subsided because it can lie dormant and yet do serious damage to the heart. The active infection can go on for months with inflammation of the heart. Hence, bed rest is important for a child with rheumatic disease. Children are most vulnerable to rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease between the age of 7 to 15 years old.
Rheumatic fever begins with a strep throat, pharyngitis or tonsillitis. Watch ut if your child develop a new fever while recovering from a strep throat or other streptococcus respiratory infection. Other symptoms include painful and swollen joints which are red and hot. Rashes are also common with the occasional nose bleed.The greatest danger of rheumatic heart disease is permanent damage to the heart due to leaky valve or muscle scarring. This is one form of child heart disease is preventable in most cases. Consult a doctor if your child has any of these symptoms. Early detection and treatment of rheumatic fever will prevent any serious damage to the heart.
