How Do You Know Rheumatic Fever Symptoms?
Rheumatic fever is a serious, but treatable, inflammatory disease. It often develops in the wake of other illnesses, such as scarlet fever or strep throat. If left untreated, rheumatic fever can cause damage to the heart, bone joints and even the brain. While cases of rheumatic fever have been rare since the advent of antibiotics, there have been several isolated outbreaks, beginning in the 1980s. To protect yourself from serious illness, you’ll need to know how to diagnose the symptoms. Look for signs that you’ve contracted strep throat. A throat culture is quick and painless and can prove definitively whether you’ve contracted strep. Because a strep throat infection can easily develop into rheumatic fever, the first step to diagnosing rheumatic fever is to know if you’ve been exposed to strep. Keep a handkerchief or tissues handy. Nosebleeds are one of the initial symptoms of rheumatic fever. To stop a nosebleed, pinch your nostril shut and lean forward while you wait for the blood f
