What organisms is the causative agent of rheumatic heart disease?

What organisms is the causative agent of rheumatic heart disease?

Rheumatic heart disease starts as a sore throat from a bacterium called Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) which can pass easily from person to person in the same way as other upper respiratory tract infections. Strep infections are most common in childhood.

Which organism is commonly associated with rheumatic heart disease?

Rheumatic heart disease is the result of valvular damage caused by an abnormal immune response to Streptococcus pyogenes infection, which is classified as a group A streptococcus that causes acute rheumatic fever.

What does rheumatic heart disease cause?

What is rheumatic heart disease? Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which permanent damage to heart valves is caused by rheumatic fever. The heart valve is damaged by a disease process that generally begins with a strep throat caused by bacteria called Streptococcus, and may eventually cause rheumatic fever.

How does rheumatic fever affect the body?

Rheumatic fever (acute rheumatic fever) is a disease that can affect the heart, joints, brain, and skin. Rheumatic fever can develop if strep throat and scarlet fever infections are not treated properly. Early diagnosis of these infections and treatment with antibiotics are key to preventing rheumatic fever.

How does rheumatic heart disease affect the body?

Rheumatic heart disease is the most serious complication of rheumatic fever and refers to the manifestations of rheumatic fever in the cardiovascular system. Rheumatic heart disease involves damage to the entire heart and its membranes. The pathophysiology of rheumatic heart disease explains how the heart and other organs of the body are affected.

Is there a link between rheumatic fever and Carditis?

There is also a genetic factor in rheumatic fever. The members of some families are much more likely to develop it, and researchers are currently looking to understand why. Rheumatic fever can cause: Carditis: inflammation of the heart muscle and heart tissue.

When does rheumatic fever damage the heart valves?

What is rheumatic heart disease? Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which the heart valves have been permanently damaged by rheumatic fever. The heart valve damage may start shortly after untreated or under-treated streptococcal infection such as strep throat or scarlet fever.

Can a untreated throat infection cause rheumatic heart disease?

In susceptible people, an immune response occurs two to three weeks following an untreated Group A Streptococcus throat infection. This response can target the brain, skin, joints and heart, and can cause inflammation. Acute rheumatic fever can be undiagnosed and this can cause failure to prevent or recognise rheumatic heart disease.

How does rheumatic heart disease affect the heart?

What causes rheumatic heart disease? Rheumatic heart disease is caused by rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can affect many connective tissues, especially in the heart, joints, skin, or brain. The heart valves can be inflamed and become scarred over time.

What is rheumatic heart disease? Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which the heart valves have been permanently damaged by rheumatic fever. The heart valve damage may start shortly after untreated or under-treated streptococcal infection such as strep throat or scarlet fever.

How many people die each year from rheumatic heart disease?

Rheumatic heart disease and claims over 288 348 lives each year – the large majority in low- or middle-income countries. The disease results from damage to heart valves caused by one or several episodes of rheumatic fever, an autoimmune inflammatory reaction to throat infection with group A streptococci (streptococcal pharyngitis or strep throat).

What kind of disease can damage the heart?

Three different diseases are associated with infections of the heart and they include; pericarditis, myocarditis, and endocarditis. Rheumatic heart disease is an inflammatory reaction that causes inflammation of the heart and can damage heart valves following pharyngeal infections with Streptococcus pyogenes.