Guide To Treating Rheumatic Heart Disease
January 7, 2019
In the United States, rheumatic heart disease is uncommon. It is diagnosed in about 0.04 to 0.06 per one thousand children. This heart condition is a complication of rheumatic fever, which typically results from strep throat, a condition caused by the streptococcus A bacteria. The heart issues associated with this disease generally present in the form of heart valve scarring or dysfunction. This forces the patient’s heart to have to work much harder to pump blood throughout the body. Eventually, this issue can lead to congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Treatment of rheumatic heart disease focuses on preventing the recurrence of rheumatic fever and correcting any heart issues the patient is experiencing.