Rheumatic fever – diagnostic criteria

Rheumatic fever – diagnostic criteria Acute rheumatic fever is an immunologically mediated disease which occurs about three weeks after a streptococcal sore throat caused by Group A beta hemolytic streptococci. Antibodies to streptococci cross react with various tissues in the body to produce the various manifestations of acute rheumatic fever. The diagnostic criteria initially proposed by Duckett Jones in 1944 has been modified and revised several times. Latest revision was by the American Heart Association. The manifestations of rheumatic fever has been classically divided into major manifestations and minor manifestations. The major manifestations of rheumatic fever are: Polyarthritis: Usually migratory, fleeting and flitting type of arthritis; fleeting means transient; flitting means jumping from one joint to another. Monoarthritis and polyarthralgia are also considered in moderate – high risk populations. Carditis: Though it is a pancarditis with endocardial, myocardial and pericardial involvement, predominant manifestation is valvular regurgitation due to endocardial involvement. Subclinical carditis with echocardiographic evidence is also considered in the latest revision. Chorea – Sydenham’s chorea: Chorea being a late manifestation, is seldom associated with arthritis, which is an early manifestation. (Imagine the trouble for a patient with acute arthritis and chorea!). Sydenham’s chorea was also known as Vitus’ dance. Chorea is often associated ...
Source: Cardiophile MD - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: HBC Carey Coombs murmur erythema marginatum Evidence of preceding streptococcal infection initial episode of acute rheumatic fever Recurrent rheumatic fever Sydenham’s chorea Source Type: blogs
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