| dc.description.abstract | cute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an illness caused
by a reaction to a bacterial infection with group
A streptococcus. It causes an acute, generalised
inflammatory response and an illness that targets
specific parts of the body, including the heart,
joints, brain and skin. Individuals with ARF are
often unwell, have significant joint pain and
require hospitalisation. Despite the dramatic
nature of the acute episode, ARF typically leaves
no lasting damage to the brain, joints or skin,
but can cause persisting heart damage, termed
‘rheumatic heart disease’ (RHD). Recurrences of
ARF may cause further cardiac valve damage.
Thus, RHD steadily worsens in people who have
multiple episodes of ARF | en |
