Rheumatic Heart Disease — One of the Danger Heart Disease
What is Rheumatic Heart Disease ?
In Rheumatic Heart Disease, rheumatic fever leads to permanent damage to the heart valves. Streptococcal infection can lead to damage to the heart valve if left untreated or under-treated for strep throat or scarlet fever. The immune response can cause an inflammatory condition in the body that can damage the running valve.
Causes of Rheumatic Heart Disease
➢ Rheumatic fever, an inflammatory condition that can affect numerous connective tissues, including the heart, joints, skin, and brain, causes rheumatic heart disease.
➢ The heart valves might become inflamed and scarred over time. This might cause the heart valve to constrict or leak, making regular heart function difficult. This might take years to show and ultimately result in heart failure.
➢ Rheumatic fever can strike anyone at any age, but it is most common in children aged 5 to 15. In industrialized countries such as the United States, it is uncommon.
Who is at Risk for Rheumatic Heart Disease ?
➢ Rheumatic heart disease can be exacerbated by untreated or undertreated strep infections.
➢ Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease are more common in children who have repeated strep throat infections.
Symptoms of Rheumatic Heart Disease
The diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease requires a recent history of strep infection or rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever symptoms vary and typically develop 1 to 6 weeks after a strep throat infection. The infection may have been too mild to be detected, or it may have disappeared by the time the person sees a doctor.
The following are the most prevalent rheumatic fever symptoms :
✓ Fever
✓ Joints that are swollen, sensitive, red, and exceedingly painful, especially the knees and ankles.
✓ Nodules are a type of nodule that is (lumps under the skin).
✓ A rash that is red, elevated, and lattice-like that appears on the chest, back, and belly.
✓ Shortness of breath and soreness in the chest.
✓ Uncontrolled arm, leg, or facial muscular movements
✓ Weakness
Rheumatic Heart Disease symptoms vary depending on the severity of valve damage and may include :
✓ Breathing problems (especially with activity or when lying down)
✓ Pain in the chest
✓ Swelling
Diagnosis of Rheumatic Heart Disease
A strep infection is common in people with rheumatic heart disease, and they may have had one lately. To check for strep, a throat culture or blood test may be done. During a regular physical examination, they may have a murmur or rub. The blood flowing around the damaged valve causes the murmur. When inflammatory cardiac tissues move or rub against each other, the rub occurs.
Tests used to identify rheumatic heart disease, in addition to a comprehensive medical history and physical examination, may include:
❑ Echocardiogram (Echo)
An echocardiogram is a test that examines the heart (echo). The chambers and valves of the heart are examined using sound waves. As an ultrasound transducer is run over the skin overlaying the heart, echo sound waves generate a picture on a screen. Damage to the valve flaps, blood backflow through a leaky valve, fluid around the heart, and cardiac enlargement can all be seen on an echo. It’s the most effective test for detecting heart valve issues.
❑ Electrocardiogram (ECG)
This test measures the strength and timing of the heart’s electrical activity. It can identify heart muscle injury and display irregular rhythms (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias). To detect electrical activity, little sensors are glued to your skin.
❑ Chest X-ray
To evaluate your lungs and discover if your heart is enlarged, an X-ray may be taken.
❑ Cardiac MRI
This is a heart imaging test that produces detailed images of the organ. It can be used to examine the heart valves and muscle in greater detail.
❑ Blood Tests Certain blood tests can be used to detect infection and inflammation.
Treatment of Rheumatic Heart Disease
➢ Treatment depends in large part on how much damage has been done to the heart valves. In severe cases, treatment may include surgery to replace or repair a badly damaged valve.
➢ The best treatment is to prevent rheumatic fever. Antibiotics can usually treat strep infections and keep rheumatic fever from developing. Anti-inflammatory drugs may be used to reduce inflammation and lower the risk of heart damage. Other medicines may be needed to manage heart failure.
➢ People who have had rheumatic fever are often given daily or monthly antibiotic treatments, possibly for life, to prevent recurrent infections and lower the risk of further heart damage. To reduce inflammation, aspirin, steroids, or non-steroidal medicines may be given.
Complications of Rheumatic Heart Disease
The following are Some of the Complications of Rheumatic Heart disease :
▪ Heart failure is a serious condition. This can be caused by a heart valve that is substantially constricted or leaking.
▪ Endocarditis caused by bacteria. This is an infection of the heart’s inner lining that can occur when the heart valves have been compromised by rheumatic fever.
▪ Pregnancy and delivery complications caused by heart disease. Before becoming pregnant, women with rheumatic heart disease should speak with their doctor about their situation.
Prevention of Rheumatic Heart Disease
Preventing strep infections or treating them with antibiotics when they do occur can help to prevent rheumatic heart disease. Even if you feel better after a few days, it’s critical to take antibiotics as prescribed and complete them as directed.