Is the rheumatoid factor high in rheumatic fever?

Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
Updated on September 23, 2024
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Patients with rheumatic fever often do not have elevated rheumatoid factor levels, as rheumatic fever primarily follows a streptococcal infection. There is typically an increase in anti-streptolysin O antibodies, while rheumatoid factors are often negative. In addition to elevated anti-streptolysin O, patients with rheumatic fever may also experience valvular heart disease, most commonly mitral stenosis. Some patients may present with skin erythema and symptoms similar to chorea, which leads us to consider the possibility of rheumatic fever. The treatment of rheumatic fever primarily involves regular antibiotic therapy and continued administration of intramuscular benzathine penicillin for a period of time. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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Does rheumatic fever spread?

Firstly, rheumatic fever is a group of delayed sequelae caused by an infection of Group A Streptococci, simply put, it refers to a type of reactive arthritis that appears after an upper respiratory tract infection. It is associated with this streptococcus, and mostly occurs during the cold and humid seasons of winter and spring. It can affect people of any age, but is most commonly seen in children aged 5-14 and adolescents. Therefore, it is not a contagious disease, but rather a set of symptoms, such as fever and joint pain, appearing in individuals with weakened immune systems following an upper respiratory tract infection. Some people may even experience valvular heart disease. However, if treated actively in the early stages, the disease usually does not lead to any long-term consequences, unless it goes untreated or is treated under poor medical conditions, which may then result in rheumatic arthritis and rheumatic heart disease.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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Rheumatic fever clinical symptoms

The clinical manifestations of rheumatic fever primarily include: Some patients may experience low fever and rashes, and about half of the patients may exhibit symptoms such as morning stiffness. The joint pain associated with rheumatic fever often occurs more frequently in the large joints of the lower limbs and is asymmetrical, but it can also affect small joints and central axis joints. It commonly presents as non-migratory arthritis. Secondly, patients with rheumatic fever may experience cardiac involvement, with the most common being heart valve disease, particularly mitral valve stenosis. Additionally, patients with rheumatic fever may also suffer from kidney involvement, often presenting with symptoms such as hematuria and proteinuria, which are typical clinical symptoms of rheumatism.

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Written by Liu Li Ning
Rheumatology
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Is a hot towel compress useful for rheumatism?

Rheumatic fever is not effectively treated by applying a towel. It is a systemic inflammatory disease caused by an infection of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. Clinically, common manifestations include fever, erythema marginatum, subcutaneous nodules, joint pain or arthritis, chorea, and carditis. The heart involvement primarily affects the valves, with the mitral and tricuspid valves being the most commonly affected, leaving many patients with valvular vegetations. The incidence of rheumatic fever has become relatively rare, mainly due to the widespread use of penicillin in recent years. During the acute phase of rheumatic fever, if joint pain occurs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as etoricoxib or meloxicam can be used for treatment.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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What should be paid attention to in the diet for rheumatic fever?

For patients with rheumatism, the general dietary rule is to follow a light diet, reduce spicy and greasy foods, and avoid foods that are too warm and dry. Specifically, vegetables like celery, coriander, leeks, seaweed, and shiitake mushrooms should be reduced in consumption because they may cause photosensitivity and worsen rheumatism. At the same time, meats such as lamb, dog meat, and beef are considered too warming and nourishing, and may also trigger the worsening of rheumatism, so their consumption should also be minimized. Similarly, seafood like shrimp, crab, and sea cucumber, which are high in protein, might cause allergic reactions in patients with rheumatism, so their intake should be minimized as well.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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Symptoms of recurrent rheumatic fever

Symptoms of recurrent rheumatic fever in the early stages may include fever and sore throat, similar to streptococcal infections. Later, patients may experience joint pain, some may develop ring-shaped erythema on the skin, and others may develop subcutaneous nodules. Severe cases may even exhibit symptoms such as carditis and chorea. If a previous rheumatic fever patient shows these symptoms, the possibility of recurrence should be considered. Treatment involves using antibiotics to eliminate streptococcal infections. Additionally, anti-inflammatory pain relievers should be used to manage joint pain. In severe cases, such as those with cardiac inflammation, corticosteroids may also be considered. (Please use medication under the guidance of a physician.)