Can rheumatic heart disease cause fever?

Written by Zhang Yue Mei

Cardiology

Updated on September 28, 2024

00:00

00:00

Rheumatic heart disease, in the early stages of onset, can present with fever. The main cause of rheumatic heart disease is due to an infection with streptococcus that causes damage to the heart valves. Initially, bacterial infection is the most prominent clinical manifestation, with common diseases like tonsillitis. If effective medication is applied to control the infection at this time, it can reduce the occurrence of rheumatic heart disease. If not treated promptly, it can lead to damage to the heart valves, resulting in rheumatic heart disease.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Zhang Yue Mei

Cardiology

36sec

home-news-image

Can rheumatic heart disease heal itself?

Rheumatic heart disease cannot heal itself, because it is caused by pathological damage to the heart valves, leading to narrowing of the valves and incomplete closure. Through careful treatment and management, clinical symptoms can be alleviated, but it cannot heal itself. Those with rheumatic heart disease must take it seriously, try to reduce the burden on the kidneys, and minimize colds. Eating easily digestible food, reducing the burden on the heart, and adhering to a low-salt, low-fat diet are recommended.

home-news-image

Written by Xie Zhi Hong

Cardiology

42sec

home-news-image

Is rheumatic heart disease related to dampness?

Rheumatic heart disease often occurs in the southern regions where there is a higher level of humidity. Some patients develop rheumatic heart disease after suffering from rheumatic arthritis or other rheumatic conditions. In Western medicine, it is believed to be due to a series of immune system damages caused by infection with Group A streptococcus, leading to rheumatic inflammation of the heart or damage to the valve functions. This often presents as mitral stenosis, atrial fibrillation, or pericardial effusion. Therefore, according to traditional Chinese medicine theory, rheumatic heart disease is related to humidity.

home-news-image

Written by Zhang Yue Mei

Cardiology

40sec

home-news-image

How does one get rheumatic heart disease?

Rheumatic heart disease is a type of organic heart disease caused by the body's abnormal reaction to infection with hemolytic streptococcus, leading to valve damage and the occurrence of rheumatic heart disease. It is directly related to upper respiratory tract infections and tonsillitis. To prevent the occurrence of heart disease, it is important to control infections early. Upon the appearance of upper respiratory tract infections, tonsillitis, or tonsillar suppuration, timely selection of effective antibiotics for treatment can control the infection early and prevent the onset of rheumatic heart disease.

home-news-image

Written by Zhang Yue Mei

Cardiology

38sec

home-news-image

Can rheumatic heart disease be inherited?

Rheumatic heart disease is not hereditary and it is not a genetic disease. Rheumatic heart disease is a hypersensitivity disease caused by an infection, especially following a streptococcal infection. This type of infection leads to the body producing antibodies. In some individuals, these antibodies combine with antigens, causing inflammation of the collagen tissue and affecting the heart. This results in inflammatory lesions on the heart valves, causing the valves to become narrowed or fail to close completely, leading to pathological changes known as rheumatic heart disease.

home-news-image

Written by Wang Lei

Cardiology

1min 9sec

home-news-image

Does rheumatic heart disease require surgery?

Patients with rheumatic heart disease primarily have involvement of valvular lesions, with the most common being accumulation in the mitral valve, leading to mitral stenosis. In the early stage of the disease, mitral stenosis often has no clinical symptoms and can only be detected through physical examinations, such as auscultation, which may reveal mitral valve murmurs. For patients with asymptomatic rheumatic heart disease, conservative treatment is primarily advised, which includes rest and reducing cardiac load to avoid surgery. Additionally, for severe rheumatic heart disease, mitral stenosis can be very serious, affecting the patient's cardiac function and causing symptoms such as chest tightness and fatigue after activity, and even paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea and inability to lie flat at night. In such cases, surgical treatment is required, such as mitral valvuloplasty or prosthetic valve replacement surgery. Thus, surgery is necessary in the late stages of rheumatic heart disease.