Rheumatic fever is caused by an abnormal immune response to a streptococcal throat infection. It commonly affects children aged 5-15 years and can cause long term heart damage including mitral regurgitation, mitral stenosis, aortic regurgitation, and tricuspid regurgitation. Treatment involves antibiotics to treat strep infections, anti-inflammatory drugs, and sometimes cardiac surgery if heart damage is severe. Long term prophylactic antibiotics are also needed to prevent recurrent rheumatic fever.