Does Rheumatic Heart Disease need surgery or just with medication??!
Question: Hi,
I believe that it depends on the amount of damage to the heart valve/s.
I quote from the site link below :-
Since rheumatic fever is the cause of rheumatic heart disease, the best treatment is to prevent rheumatic fever from occurring. Penicillin and other antibiotics can usually treat strep throat (a streptococcus A bacterial infection) and stop acute rheumatic fever from developing.
Persons who have previously contracted rheumatic fever are often given continuous (daily or monthly) antibiotic treatments, possibly for life, to prevent future attacks of rheumatic fever and lower the risk of heart damage. Antibiotic therapy has sharply reduced the incidence and mortality rate of rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease. To reduce inflammation, aspirin, steroids, or non-steroidal medications may be given. Surgery may be necessary to repair or replace the damaged valve.
Arnak
Answers: Hi,
I believe that it depends on the amount of damage to the heart valve/s.
I quote from the site link below :-
Since rheumatic fever is the cause of rheumatic heart disease, the best treatment is to prevent rheumatic fever from occurring. Penicillin and other antibiotics can usually treat strep throat (a streptococcus A bacterial infection) and stop acute rheumatic fever from developing.
Persons who have previously contracted rheumatic fever are often given continuous (daily or monthly) antibiotic treatments, possibly for life, to prevent future attacks of rheumatic fever and lower the risk of heart damage. Antibiotic therapy has sharply reduced the incidence and mortality rate of rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease. To reduce inflammation, aspirin, steroids, or non-steroidal medications may be given. Surgery may be necessary to repair or replace the damaged valve.
Arnak
Rheumatic fever when it involves the heart commonly damages the heart valves. If the damage is minor you may go a lifetime without problems. With significant damage the stress on the heart, typically over many years, may cause the valves to narrow or leak. Just like plumbing when these abnormalities begin to damage the underlying pipes(heart) they often need to be replaced or repaired surgically.