Rheumatic Fever
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Basics
Description
- Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an autoimmune, inflammatory response to infection with group A Streptococcus (GAS) that affects multiple organ systems.
- Untreated acute disease can lead to chronic rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
- Recurrence is common without adequate antibiotic treatment.
Pediatric Considerations
Most cases occur in children aged 5 to 15 years; rare in children <5 years (1)
Epidemiology
- ARF and RHD are largely restricted to low-income countries and marginalized sections of wealthy countries.
- Male = female; females more likely to develop chorea and RHD.
- Endemic regions include South Pacific, indigenous populations of Australia and New Zealand, Africa, and Asia (2).
Incidence
- Worldwide, incidence has been declining for 25 years. The large majority of new cases are in developing countries (2).
- Mean worldwide incidence ranges from 8 to 51/100,000 school-aged children (1); in endemic regions, prevalence can be >1,000 cases per 100,000 people (2).
- Incidence of ARF in the United States is approximately 0.6–3.4/100,000 school-aged children (2).
Prevalence
- In developing areas, RHD affects >33 million people and is the leading cause of cardiovascular death during the first 5 decades of life.
- Prevalence has been rising due to improved medical care and longer survival.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- ARF most commonly occurs 2 to 3 weeks after GAS pharyngitis infection, but GAS impetigo may also be a preceding infection.
- Although pathogenicity is not completely understood, expert consensus implicates genetic and molecular mimicry leading to an inflammatory cascade as key to disease development.
- Joint involvement is a likely result of immune complex accumulation.
Genetics
- Susceptibility is associated with certain indigenous populations.
- ARF is heritable, polygenic, and displays variable and incomplete penetrance.
Risk Factors
Poverty, household crowding, genetic susceptibility, ethnic predisposition, and social disadvantage are the strongest risk factors.
General Prevention
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Basics
Description
- Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an autoimmune, inflammatory response to infection with group A Streptococcus (GAS) that affects multiple organ systems.
- Untreated acute disease can lead to chronic rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
- Recurrence is common without adequate antibiotic treatment.
Pediatric Considerations
Most cases occur in children aged 5 to 15 years; rare in children <5 years (1)
Epidemiology
- ARF and RHD are largely restricted to low-income countries and marginalized sections of wealthy countries.
- Male = female; females more likely to develop chorea and RHD.
- Endemic regions include South Pacific, indigenous populations of Australia and New Zealand, Africa, and Asia (2).
Incidence
- Worldwide, incidence has been declining for 25 years. The large majority of new cases are in developing countries (2).
- Mean worldwide incidence ranges from 8 to 51/100,000 school-aged children (1); in endemic regions, prevalence can be >1,000 cases per 100,000 people (2).
- Incidence of ARF in the United States is approximately 0.6–3.4/100,000 school-aged children (2).
Prevalence
- In developing areas, RHD affects >33 million people and is the leading cause of cardiovascular death during the first 5 decades of life.
- Prevalence has been rising due to improved medical care and longer survival.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- ARF most commonly occurs 2 to 3 weeks after GAS pharyngitis infection, but GAS impetigo may also be a preceding infection.
- Although pathogenicity is not completely understood, expert consensus implicates genetic and molecular mimicry leading to an inflammatory cascade as key to disease development.
- Joint involvement is a likely result of immune complex accumulation.
Genetics
- Susceptibility is associated with certain indigenous populations.
- ARF is heritable, polygenic, and displays variable and incomplete penetrance.
Risk Factors
Poverty, household crowding, genetic susceptibility, ethnic predisposition, and social disadvantage are the strongest risk factors.
General Prevention
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