What should be paid attention to in the diet for rheumatic fever?

Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
Updated on March 05, 2025
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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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Is rheumatism hot compress useful?

Hot compresses for rheumatic diseases can alleviate joint pain by increasing the local skin temperature, and have a certain effect in relieving joint swelling and pain. However, they cannot fundamentally solve the problem. Rheumatic diseases still require chronic oral medication treatment. The commonly used medications for treating rheumatic diseases fall into three main categories. The first category consists of drugs that control pain symptoms, which we call anti-inflammatory analgesics, commonly including medications like celecoxib. Additionally, to control the progression of rheumatism, it is also necessary to use some immunosuppressants, with the most common being methotrexate and leflunomide. If the above methods are not effective, we may consider treatment with biologics. (Medication should be administered under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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Can people with rheumatic fever eat fish?

Patients with rheumatic fever can eat freshwater fish, but should try to eat less fish without scales and sea fish. For patients with rheumatic fever, the general dietary rule is to eat a light diet and reduce consumption of spicy, warming, oily, and rich foods. Foods such as celery, coriander, leeks, seaweed, mushrooms, beef, mutton, dog meat, and longan should be minimized. Seafood, such as shrimp and crab, which are high in protein, should also be consumed less. In addition to dietary considerations, patients with rheumatic fever should also avoid getting cold and pay attention to rest.

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Written by Liu Li Ning
Rheumatology
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Does rheumatic fever cause night sweats?

Rheumatic fever can cause night sweats, but this symptom is not specific, as many patients with tuberculosis also experience night sweats. Rheumatic fever is a systemic inflammatory disease caused by Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection. Clinically, it commonly presents with symptoms like fever, joint pain, erythema marginatum, subcutaneous nodules, chorea, and carditis. During the acute phase of rheumatic fever, if there is joint pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used for treatment. If there is carditis, corticosteroids may be administered. For patients with rheumatic fever, long-term treatment with penicillin is also recommended, typically suggested for three to five years to control the disease.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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What tests are needed for rheumatic fever?

The examinations for rheumatic fever include laboratory tests and electrocardiograms, as well as imaging studies. Laboratory tests include indicators of streptococcal infection, commonly using throat swab bacterial cultures, which have a positivity rate of about 20% to 25%. They also include anti-streptolysin O tests, generally considered positive if the titer is above 1:400. Secondly, the tests include those for acute inflammatory response, common markers of which are elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Electrocardiograms help in detecting various arrhythmias, such as sinus tachycardia and prolonged PR interval. Echocardiography can be used to detect any abnormalities in the mitral valve of the heart.

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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.