Can you soak your feet if you have rheumatic fever?

Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Patients with rheumatic fever can relieve some joint pain by soaking their feet, but this does not fundamentally solve the problem. Rheumatic fever is often caused by streptococcal infection, which leads to diseases such as arthritis. Therefore, antibiotics should be used at the source to eliminate streptococcal infection and hence prevent the recurrence of rheumatism. Additionally, we can use anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs to control joint pain. Commonly used anti-inflammatory analgesics include non-steroidal pain relievers, such as diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets. If there is inflammation in the heart due to rheumatic fever, corticosteroid treatment should be considered. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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The Difference Between Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Most patients with rheumatoid arthritis primarily exhibit symptoms related to the joints. Mainly affected are the symmetrical small joints of both hands, including both wrists, both palmar digital joints, and both proximal interphalangeal joints. In addition, patients with rheumatoid arthritis often have elevated rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP antibodies, and AKA antibodies. During the acute phase of joint disease, there is a marked increase in inflammatory markers, which is a major manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with rheumatic fever, aside from joint pain, may also have heart valve disorders, such as mitral stenosis, and some patients may develop skin lesions, commonly erythema nodosum. Most importantly, patients with rheumatic conditions often show a significant increase in anti-streptolysin O.

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Written by Liu Li Ning
Rheumatology
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Does rheumatic fever cause an increase in body temperature?

Rheumatic fever may lead to increased body temperature; fever is one of the common clinical manifestations of rheumatic fever, primarily associated with streptococcal infections. Other common symptoms of rheumatic fever include joint pain or arthritis, erythema marginatum, subcutaneous nodules, chorea, and carditis. During the acute phase, penicillin antibiotics can be used to treat the infection. At the same time, it is important to rest adequately and consume high-quality protein foods to ensure sufficient nutrition and calories. Foods rich in high-quality protein such as lean meat, milk, and eggs should be consumed appropriately. In addition, symptomatic treatment is also crucial. For arthritis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used, and corticosteroids are necessary for treating carditis.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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Is the rheumatoid factor high in rheumatic fever?

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 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 Liu Li Ning
Rheumatology
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Can you drink alcohol with rheumatic fever?

Rheumatic fever should not involve alcohol consumption. Because drinking could potentially trigger a flare-up of rheumatic fever and worsen the symptoms. Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease caused by Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection. Common clinical manifestations include fever, subcutaneous nodules, erythema marginatum, joint pain or arthritis, chorea, carditis, and so forth. During the acute phase, the main symptoms are fever and joint pain, which can be treated with penicillin antibiotics to combat infection. Joint pain can be relieved with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as etoricoxib. In cases where carditis occurs during the acute phase, combined treatment with corticosteroids is also required. Regarding diet, it is advisable to eat lightly, and both smoking and drinking alcohol should be avoided.