What is Rheumatic heart disease ?

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) describes a group of short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) heart disorders that can occur after an episode of acute rheumatic fever (ARF). Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that may affect many connective tissues of the body, especially, those of the heart, joints, brain or skin. It usually starts out as a streptococcal throat infection in children between the ages of 5 and 15 years. One common result of rheumatic fever is heart valve damage. This damage to the heart valves may lead to a valve disorders and also heart failure. RHD is the most serious complication of rheumatic fever.

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Treatments & Therapies