Rheumatic fever

Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease which may develop after an infection with streptococcus bacteria (such as strep throat or scarlet fever) and can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain.

Symptoms

• Fever
• Joint pain, migratory arthritis -- involving primarily knees, elbows, ankles, and wrists
• Joint swelling; redness or warmth
• Abdominal pain
• Skin rash (erythema marginatum)
• Skin eruption on the trunk and upper part of arms or legs
• Eruptions that are ring-shaped or snake-like in appearance
• Skin nodules
• Sydenham's chorea
• Epistaxis
• Cardiac (heart) involvement which may be asymptomatic or may result in shortness of breath, chest pain