The document outlines the criteria for diagnosing rheumatic fever, known by the mnemonic "JONES CAFE PAL". It lists the major criteria of joint involvement, previous rheumatic fever, heart involvement (myocarditis), subcutaneous nodules, and fever. The minor criteria include arthralgia, elevated inflammatory markers, erythema, chorea, prolonged PR interval, prior strep infection history, and increased white blood cells. A diagnosis requires two major criteria or one major criterion and two minor criteria, along with a positive strep test or antibody titer.

1. Rheumatic Fever: Criteria
Mnemonic: “JONES CAFE PAL”
Major Criteria
Minor Criteria
Joint Involvement
C
CRP Increased
O
O looks like a heart = myocarditis
A
Arthralgia
N
Nodules, subcutaneous
F
Fever
E
Erythema marginatum
E
Elevated ESR
S
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J
Sydenham chorea
P
Prolonged PR Interval
A
Anamnesis of Rheumatism
L
Leukocytosis
Diagnosis
Throat cultures
growing GABHS
OR
Elevated
anti-streptolysin
O titers
2 Major criteria
OR
1 Major criterion
and
2 Minor criteria