What Is Rheumatic Fever?
8. Chest Pain
Chest pain is another symptom associated with rheumatic fever. It occurs in patients that develop acute carditis, which is the inflammation (and possible damage) of any or all of the layers of the heart, including the heart valves. Carditis is most common in children and occurs in roughly 30 to 60 percent of the first episodes of acute rheumatic fever. In this condition, chest pain may be accompanied by shortness of breath and cough; however, carditis can also be subclinical or asymptomatic.
Importantly, this inflammation of the heart tissues has the potential to cause long-term disability or death. While acute rheumatic fever leaves no lasting damage to other parts of the body, damage to the heart valves may persist once the carditis has resolved (i.e. rheumatic heart disease). Thus, the importance of primary prevention of this condition.
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