What are the clinical manifestations of rheumatic fever?
Disease description:
I've been feeling sore in my waist and back these days, especially in my lower back. Additionally, my knee joints have been experiencing some pain. After visiting the hospital for examination, I found out it was caused by rheumatic fever. May I ask what are the clinical manifestations of rheumatic fever?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Tiesheng
The clinical manifestations of rheumatic fever mainly include the following:
1. **Arthritis**: Polyarthritis is a common initial symptom, occurring in more than 75% of cases. Affected joints present with redness, swelling, warmth, pain, and restricted movement. Large joints such as the knees, ankles, elbows, wrists, and shoulders are frequently involved. The arthritis is migratory in nature and may move from one joint to another within hours or days.
2. **Carditis**: Presenting in 40% to 80% of pediatric cases, carditis may manifest as myocarditis, endocarditis, pericarditis, or pancarditis, potentially causing symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, and tachycardia.
3. **Other symptoms**: These include erythema marginatum, subcutaneous nodules, and Sydenham chorea. Erythema marginatum occurs in approximately 2.4% of cases, while subcutaneous nodules and chorea are even rarer.
The clinical manifestations of rheumatic fever lack specificity; therefore, diagnosis requires comprehensive analysis incorporating laboratory tests and other clinical findings.
