Rheumatic fever is a chronic disease that causes damage to the valves that are found inside the heart. In children, it was a major cause of death, but that was before the 1960’s. The disease has been here for many centuries, and it was first diagnosed by a Charles Wells in 1812.
For many years, it was thought that sore throat was a symptom of the disease, but this was later found not to be true in the 1880’s. In the 1900’s, rheumatic fever was connected with another kind of fever known as the scarlet fever. Both of these two diseases had very similar symptoms, but in 1944 a criterion was made to help tell these two diseases apart. When antibiotics were introduced in the medical field, they helped a lot to treat and prevent the disease. The antibiotics treat the streptococcal infection that is prevalent especially in the tropical areas of the continent. Recently however, scientists have also discovered that the various genetic dispositions that are found in human beings also lead to the development of the fever. This is usually an acute one.
The type of infection that causes rheumatic fever attacks the upper part of the respiratory system. The disease also causes complications to the heart, the nervous system and the skin.
In the United States, the disease is associated with the socioeconomic status of the people. The disease is more common in areas that are overcrowded. Over the years, the disease had almost disappeared, but in the last like two decades, more reports of the disease have been reported. The doctors are not sure whether this is because the bacteria that causes the disease has mutated or whether a more resistant form has re-emerged. In the United States still, the disease is prevalent in the western region of Pennsylvania with about 120 cases being reported from 1994-2003. This mainly affected the children. It has also been found among the Hawaiians and Samoans. The disease affects the school going children especially during the cold months of the year.
The situation is a bit different in other parts of the world. The fever is found in the tropics in countries that do not have many resources, and it is mainly among the indigenous people. In the less developed countries especially in Africa and Asia, the ARF is the most common disease, but rheumatic fever is also common. In some areas, the fever has been credited to be among the major causes of heart failure in pregnant women sometimes even leading to their death. The deaths that are as a result of the fever are usually proportional to the rates of infection. If the infections are not treated, they will most likely be fatal.
In the last decade though, the deaths have reduced considerably. This has been credited to the use of antibiotics, but this is in the developed countries. In the developing countries, this is not the case. The disease has caused many children’s deaths, and some have been left disabled.
