Rheumatic Heart Disease
Overview
It refers to the damage in one or more heart valves that can develop after rheumatic fever. The fever usually occurs as a result of strep throat or scarlet fever which is not treated properly. Rheumatic fever can damage the heart valves, leading to rheumatic heart disease. If left untreated, rheumatic heart disease can cause complications such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation and infection of the valves. Common signs and symptoms of this heart condition are:
- Heart palpitations or missing heartbeats
- Pain in the chest area
- Thumping sensations in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Excessive fatigue
- Swelling in stomach, ankles, and wrists
Other Conditions & Treatments
- Angina
- Arrhythmia
- Cholesterol
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Diabetes
- Heart Attack
- Heart Failure
- Heart Transplant
- Hypertension
- Valvular Heart Disease
- Vascular Surgery