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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How long will it take for rheumatic fever rash to heal?

Rheumatic fever rash generally improves after seven to ten days of treatment, but this is contingent upon completing a full course of antibiotics. This is because the rash is induced by a streptococcal infection. Therefore, to control the infection by streptococcus, the rash will begin to improve. Moreover, if the rash does not subside over time, it may also be considered to strengthen anti-inflammatory treatment with glucocorticoids and anti-allergy treatments to reduce the rash. Additionally, medications like loratadine dispersible tablets and compound glycyrrhizin can be added to help reduce the occurrence of rheumatic fever rash and accelerate its resolution.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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The difference between rheumatic fever and rheumatoid arthritis

The main difference between rheumatic fever and rheumatoid arthritis is that in addition to symptoms of arthritis, rheumatic fever also presents with elevated anti-streptolysin O levels and valvular heart disease, with some patients displaying subcutaneous erythema and chorea-like symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, primarily manifests as joint pain, and rarely involves heart valve issues. Additionally, rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by elevated rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP antibodies, and anti-AkA antibodies as its main clinical features. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis also exhibit increased inflammatory markers. The key differences between rheumatic fever and rheumatoid arthritis lie in the different antibodies involved and the general association of rheumatic fever with cardiac involvement.

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Written by Liu Li Ning
Rheumatology
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Can rheumatic fever be contagious?

Rheumatic fever generally is not contagious. Because the onset of rheumatism is somewhat related to infection by Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus, and it is not a contagious disease, it does not spread. Common clinical manifestations of rheumatic fever include fever, erythema marginatum, subcutaneous nodules, joint pain, chorea, and carditis. During the acute phase of rheumatism, it is recommended to rest in bed and avoid overexertion. In terms of medical treatment, because it is related to streptococcal infection, penicillin antibiotics are generally recommended. If there is concurrent carditis, corticosteroids should be used in combination to improve the condition.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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How to treat rheumatic fever arthritis?

Rheumatic fever joint pain initially can be treated with anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications. The most commonly used are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as slow-release diclofenac sodium tablets. Since rheumatic fever is triggered by a streptococcal infection, if the streptococcus is not controlled, joint pain may reoccur. Therefore, fundamentally, an adequate course of anti-infection treatment is also needed. In the acute phase of rheumatic fever, antibiotics such as penicillin or second-generation cephalosporins can be used for a 10-14 day treatment. Subsequently, treatment may require sequential benzathine penicillin for possibly up to six months or more than a year. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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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.)