Rheumatic fever and heart disease are caused by an autoimmune reaction to a Group A streptococcal infection. Acute rheumatic fever causes inflammation of the heart and valves, which can lead to rheumatic heart disease characterized by scarring and deformity of the heart valves. Symptoms include polyarthritis, carditis, chorea, and subcutaneous nodules. Treatment involves bed rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics to prevent recurrence, and possible heart valve surgery for complications like stenosis. Nursing care focuses on managing pain, cardiac output, and ensuring patient education about the chronic nature of rheumatic heart disease.

1. Rheumatic fever and
heart disease

2. Rheumatic Fever and heart
disease
• Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a inflammatory disease
of the heart potentially involving all layers (
endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium) of heart
resulting from an autoimmune reaction to infection
with group A streptococci
• Rheumatic heart disease is a chronic condition
resulting from rheumatic fever that is characterized by
scarring and deformity of the heart valves

3. Incidence
• ARF is mainly a disease of children aged 5–14 years.
• Initial episodes become less common in older
adolescents and young adults and are rare in persons
aged >30 years.
• There is no clear gender association for ARF, but RHD
more commonly affects females, sometimes up to
twice as frequently as males.

4. Etiology
Causative Organism
• Caused by group A beta haemolytic
streptococcus.
• There is a latent period of ~3 weeks
(1–5 weeks) between the precipitating
group A streptococcal infection and
the appearance of the clinical features
of ARF.

5. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Causative agent (Group A Beta-
hemolytic streptococci)
Untreated Strep throat
Rheumatic fever

6. All layers of the heart and the mitral valve and
other connective tissue inflamation
Vegetation forms
Valvular regurgitations and stenosis, joint pain
other manifestation
Heart failure

7. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
• Group A strep pharyngeal infection precedes clinical
manifestations of ARF by 2 - 6 weeks.
• Body produce antibodies against streptococci

8. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
• These antibodies cross react with human tissues
because of the antigenic similarity between
streptococcal components and human connective
tissues (molecular mimicry)
• Immunologically mediated inflammation & damage
(autoimmune) to human tissues which have antigenic
similarity with streptococcal components- like heart, joint,
brain and connective tissues

9. Clinical manifestations

10. STREPTOCOCCUS SORE THROAT
• Tender lymph nodes
• Close contact with infected
person
• Scarlet fever rash
• Tonsillar exudates in older children
• Abdominal pain
• GOLD STANDARD POSITIVE THROAT CULTURE

12. CLINICAL FEATURES
• Cluster of signs and symptoms
• A group of criteria developed by T.D jones
Following upper airway infection with GAS
Silent period of 2 - 6 weeks
Sudden onset of fever, pallor, malaise, fatigue.

13. JONES MAJOR CRITERIA
Polyarthritis
Carditis
Sydenham’s chorea
Erythema marginatum
Subcutaneous nodules

14. Fever
Arthralgia
Epistaxis
Serositis
Elevated
ESR
WBC
CRP
MINOR
MANIFESTATIONS

15. 1.POLYARTHRITIS
Most common feature: present in 90% of patients
Joint is arthritic  ie inflammed.
 Painful, migratory, short duration.
 Usually >5 joints affected and mainly large joints
Knees, ankles, wrists, elbows, shoulders

16. 2.CARDITIS
• Early and most serious manifestation
• Manifest as pancarditis
• Occur in 60-70% of cases
• Heart murmer
• Cardiac enlargement
• Pericarditis

17. Chorea (sydenham’s chorea)
• Major CNS manifestation
• Characterized by involunatary movements, especially of
the face and limbs which cause disturbances of speech
and gait

18. Erythema marginatum
• Bright pink, nonpruriric,maplike macular lesions
occur mainly on the trunk and proximal extrimities

20. Subcutaneous nodules
• Associated with severe carditis
• Characterized by firm, small,hard ,painless swelling
located over extenser surfaces of the joints,knee,wrist
and elbow

21. Subcutaneous nodules

22. JONES CRITERIA
 2 major or
1 major and 2 minor
• plus evidence of streptococcal infection indicates ARF

23. Evidence of Group A streptococcal infection
• Positive throat culture for strep A
• Elevated or rising anti-streptococcal antibody titer
• Recent scarlet fever

24. DIAGNOSIS
• Major and minor critera
• Echocardiogram- valvular insufficiency
pericardial fluid/thickening
• Chest X-ray- Cardiomegaly
• ECG- AV conduction delay

27. • Step I - primary prevention
(eradication of streptococci)
• Step II - anti inflammatory treatment
(aspirin,steroids)
• Step III- supportive management & management
of complications
• Step IV- secondary prevention (prevention
of recurrent attacks)

28. CLINICAL CONDITION DRUG
Arthritis only Aspirin 75-100 mg/kg/day , give as 4 divided
doses for 6 weeks (attain a body level 20-30
mg/dl)
Carditis Corticosteroids 1-2 mg/kg per day – for 4-6
weeks to be tapered off
Step II: Anti inflammatory treatment

29. 3.Step III: Supportive management &
management of complications
• Bed rest
• Treatment of congestive cardiac failure: -
digitalis,diuretics
• Treatment of chorea: -diazepam
or haloperidol
• Rest to joints & supportive splinting

30. STEP IV : Secondary Prevention of Rheumatic Fever (Prevention of
Recurrent Attacks)
Agent Dose Mode
Benzathine penicillin G 1 200 000 U every 3 weeks* Intramuscular
or
Penicillin V 250 mg twice daily Oral
For individuals allergic to penicillin and sulfadiazine
Erythromycin 250 mg twice daily Oral
Recommendations of American Heart Association

31. SURGICAL MANAGEMENT

32. • In patients with critical stenosis, mitral valvulotomy,
percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty, or mitral valve
replacement may be indicated.
• Due to high rates of recurrent symptoms after annuloplasty
or other repair procedures, valve replacement appears to be
the preferred surgical option

33. NURSING MANAGEMENT
• ASSESSMENT

34. • Nursing diagnosis
Acute Pain related to inflammatory response in the
joints.
Interventions
• Assess the level of pain, duration, intensity and frequency of
pain.
• Complete bed rest and provide comfortable position.
• Provide diversional therapy and psychological support.
• Administer analgesics as needed.

35. • Nursing diagnosis
Decreased cardiac output related to valve
dysfunction or HF.

36. Interventions
• Assess the symptoms of heart failure and decreased cardiac
output including diminished quality of peripheral pulses, cool
skin and extremities, increased respiration, increased heart rate,
neck vein distention and presence of edema.
• Assess for heart sounds.
• Monitor intake and output.
• Provide bed rest.
• Administration of cardiac glycosides as prescribed.
• Administration of antibiotics to reduce infection.

37. • Nursing diagnosis
Knowledge deficit related to disease condition and long term
treatment.
Intervention
• Assess the clients level of knowledge.
• Assess the client’s ability to learn.
• Explain about disease condition and about prophylactic
treatment of antibiotics.
• Clarify the clients doubt clearly.