Rheumatic Fever

Question 1

What is rheumatic fever ?
What does it affect?

Answer 1

• Rheumatic fever is a multisystem disease which occurs after a group A streptococcal infection
• Affects heart, skin, joints and central nervous system

Question 2

Incidence and epidemiology of rheumatic fever

Answer 2

Question 3

Aetiopathogenesis of rheumatic fever
Caused by?
Risk factors?
Can occur after?

Answer 3

Question 4

Aetiopathogeneis of rheumatic fever part 2

Answer 4

• Vasculitis affecting the connective tissue
• Aschoff’s body consists of an aggregate of large cells with polymorphs and basophils around a vascular fibrinoid core
• Pancarditis with the endocardium being the most severely involved

Question 5

Clinical features of rheumatic fever
Diagnosis made by?
Major criteria?

Answer 5

Question 6

What can be the first clinical manifestation after the streptococcal sore throat?

Answer 6

Polyarthritis May be the first clinical manifestation after the streptococcal sore throat.

Polyarthritis occurs in 80-90% of patients.
- The arthritis is migratory and lasts for 4-6 weeks. It mainly affects the large joints such as the knee, ankle, elbow, hip and shoulder.

• The pain may last for a week in any particular joint.

Question 7

Carditis

Answer 7

CARDITIS - Inflammation of the heart

Question 8

What is pericarditis?

Answer 8

Question 9

What is myocarditis?

Answer 9

Question 10

What is endocarditis?

Answer 10

Question 11

What is chorea?

Answer 11

Question 12

Subcutaneous Nodules/ Erythema Nodusum

Answer 12

Subcutaneous nodule - RARE small, non tender, mobile, firm

Erythema Nodusum - painful, larger than subcutaneous nodule, pink / red, tender on palpation

Question 13

Erythema Marginatum

Answer 13

Question 14

What are the three types of carditis?

Answer 14

1. Pericarditis
2. Myocarditis
3. Endocariditis

Question 15

What is myocardium?

Answer 15

The muscle layer of the heart