Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic heart disease is a condition where the heart valves are damaged by rheumatic fever. This may occur following an untreated or undertreated bacterial (streptococcal) infection that causes your body to produce an inflammatory response.

Causes

Inflammation of the heart valve caused by rheumatic fever
Recurring streptococcal infections

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of rheumatic heart disease may take years to manifest following a streptococcal infection or rheumatic fever. The symptoms include:

Chest aches
Fatigue
Shortness of breath (especially after physical exertion or when lying down)
Heart murmurs
Swelling in the hands, feet or abdomen

Risk factors

Recurring untreated streptococcal infections
Limited accessibility to healthcare or antibiotics
Residing in overcrowded or populated conditions

Diagnosis

Physical examination
Evaluation of medical history
Echocardiogram (to search for faulty or narrowed heart valves)
Electrocardiogram
Chest X-ray
Blood tests (to test for the presence of inflammation)
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Treatment options

While there is no cure for rheumatic heart disease, there are treatments that can help manage the symptoms and delay the development of future complications. These include: