Definition of Rheumatic fever:

Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that may develop after an infection with Streptococcus bacteria (such as strep throat or scarlet fever). The disease can affect the heart, joints, skin, and brain.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Rheumatic fever is common worldwide and is responsible for many cases of damaged heart valves. Although it has become far less common in the U.S. since the beginning of the 20th century, there have been a few outbreaks since the 1980s.

Rheumatic fever mainly affects children ages 6 -15, and occurs approximately 20 days after strep throat or scarlet fever. In up to a third of cases, the strep infection that caused rheumatic fever may not have had any symptoms.

About 3% of people with untreated strep infections get rheumatic fever. People who had a case of rheumatic fever are likely to develop flare-ups with repeated strep infections.