RT Book, Section
A1 Fulton, David R.
A2 Zaoutis, Lisa B.
A2 Chiang, Vincent W.
SR Print(0)
ID 1146115501
T1 Acute Rheumatic Fever
T2 Comprehensive Pediatric Hospital Medicine, 2e
YR 2017
FD 2017
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071829281
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1146115501
RD 2023/09/23
AB Acute  rheumatic  fever  (ARF)  is  an  inflammatory  condition  manifested  by  the  nonsuppurative  sequelae  of  a  preceding  group  A  β-hemolytic  streptococcal  (GAS)  pharyngitis.  ARF  involves  the  heart,  central  nervous  system,  joints,  and  skin  and  is  the  most  common  cause  of  acquired  heart  disease  in  many  regions  of  the  world.  Historically,  the  relationship  between  streptococci  and  rheumatic  fever  was  not  evident;  however,  investigation  over  the  past  several  decades  has  shown  that  only  GAS  infections  are  associated  with  ARF.  Diagnosis  of  the  disease  relies  on  the  identification  of  major  and  minor  criteria  that  include  clinical  observations  and  laboratory  data,  an  approach  that  has  been  modified  occasionally  since  its  introduction  in  1944  by  Jones.1  The  greatest  impact  of  the  illness  lies  in  its  potential  to  cause  progressive  valvular  heart  disease,  which  is  more  likely  with  recurrent  episodes  of  ARF.  Antibiotic  prophylaxis  is  therefore  important  to  minimize  the  likelihood  of  recurrent  GAS  pharyngitis.